The International AIDS conferences and activism are inextricably linked. Many aspects of the pandemic and our response have been shaped by activists. The historical approach to infectious diseases prior to HIV was one of containment, quarantine and isolation…as we attempted to restrict transmission. But HIV, with its long incubation period, its prevalence initially in marginalised populations led to a movement that eventually resulted in a human rights approach to the response involving voluntary counselling, informed consent, involvement of civil society etc. There are several heroes that defined the response and continue to do so. The work of activists makes the International AIDS conference different from any other medical conference you could possibly attend and makes us think beyond odds, ratios and confidence intervals…..a good thing!
Right from the opening ceremony of this conference, activists made their voices heard asking the G8 countries about their broken promises….
And you cannot be at this conference and miss Paula Akugizibwe of ARASA. (AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa)…passionate, knowledgeable and articulate….
Below are images from ARASA’s advocacy campaign on the proliferate spending of our “leaders” (we should do something similar for our senators in Nigeria)
Then there were the Catholics for Choice who insist that good Catholics use condoms…
And you could not miss Annie Lennox even if you tried…she brought all her stardom to bear drawing attention to AIDS, linking it all back to the effect Madiba had on her life…
The President and Secretary of the Treatment Action Campaign to whom we have a whole lot to be thankful for on the continent, for his sustained campaign enabling more people to have access to ARVs…
And if you want to learn about how counselling evolved with the pandemic in Africa and the engagement of the community and people living with HIV, then you have to study the The AIDS Support Organisation of Uganda. The founder, Noerine Kaleeba below…phenomenal woman.
…..and do you recognise these faces?
…or these ones?
…and finally no prizes for guessing the proudest country around these days 🙂 Don’t you envy them? Their Deputy Prime Minister spoke at the opening ceremony, and their Minister of Health was a plenary speaker. I know what you are thinking…but don’t bother asking. And you would think that our new Minister of Health would be here…but what can we say?
http://www.nigeriahealthwatch.com/
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has…Margaret Mead
