Ugandashis 68 world HIV day

UgandAshis 68 World HIV day

Fort Portal, December 1, 2009.

There is a lot to think about once we reach the topic of HIV/AIDS and people living with the infection. Today is the day to remember those that have passed away, those that have been infected and those that will be infected in the future. For them some thoughts lined up in the form of a list

1. To navigate the Scylla of prevention and the Charibdis of treatment is not an easy course.
As the Argonauts had to navigate between a storm (I believe) and a terrible sea monster to reach safety so the International Medical Movement is trying to find a course between prevention and treatment. As it is right now there is in my mind more emphasis on treating those with infections than there is on preventing the pool of people that require treatment to become less. Let me be clear both are required and keeping the numbers of patients down is of the utmost importance

2. Religious and moral approaches to life are important and should be engaged in debate to prevent more infections.
How in 2009 a pope and imams can still declare the condom use to be a sin even in discordant couples (one partner HIV positive the other HIV negative) is just unbelievable.

3. The attitudes of many relating to condom use is mind boggling
‘Live sex is better’ and ‘the risk to me is not so big’ Statements of Dutch, American and Ugandan students.

4. HIV/AIDS does not kill any more it is a chronic disease I will take the tablets.
Yup and the side effects of the tablets is a long list some life threatening some just extremely un nice.

5. Vaccine and cure are in the pipeline
Yes and they have been for over 25 years, still no definite answers and in general we can wonder if there has been that much improvement in anti retroviral cure

6. The good news is that more and more of the people requiring Anti Retro Virals in Uganda are receiving.

The sheer number is huge and in a country that has so many people living with HI/AIDS of the 300.000 requiring ARV’s over 50% are getting them and that number is growing every year.

7. The bad news is that the number of people with infections is still increasing
Absolutely seen there are more than a million cases (UNAIDS 2008 report) in Uganda (in a population of 33 million estimated) and the number of cases is rising.
Tomorrow I will take my camera and ask some Ugandan doctors, nurses and perhaps patients how they feel about what is happening with HIV/AIDS in their part of the world. Bare in mind there is an amazing under investment in health in Uganda. Given that the outcome of the different Joint Clinical Research Centers is extra remarkable.

I would love to hear your thoughts on HIV/AIDS make a comment or write a post.

Namaskar,

Ashis Brahma

http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_the_truth_about_hiv.html