Has HIV defied science or is it a game of rich countries?
Dec 01, 2010
EDITOR: I wish to comment on the issue of HIV. Yesterday was World AIDS Day and focused on access of medicine and human rights. I thank the promoters of the theme for pledging to work towards universal access to HIV treatment, prevention and care, and identifying these as a fundamental human right.
EDITOR: I wish to comment on the issue of HIV. Yesterday was World AIDS Day and focused on access of medicine and human rights. I thank the promoters of the theme for pledging to work towards universal access to HIV treatment, prevention and care, and identifying these as a fundamental human right.
However, it hurts me to hear that young girls, some younger than 16 years and others who have lived with the killer virus for over 10 years, being reflected in the reports without mentioning any progress made towards finding a cure. These young girls are the mothers of the nation who must be treated from a human rights perspective.
Unfortunately, their hope for good health, peace and happiness is nowhere near the horizon as science seems to have failed. Africa has been through disaster, ruin and grief and we now live in constant danger and fear. Has God not blessed the world with scientists to give answers to our most pressing challenges?
The answers we always get about HIV treatment is always ARVs which only hold the virus but does not completely destroy it. Has science failed completely to find a real cure for HIV or is a game by developed world? While people have deepened their understanding on HIV/AIDS and have developed for themselves strong partnerships, African stakeholders must stand up and demand for a lasting cure for HIV if the theme of universal access is to hold water.
There are some discriminatory tendencies that stand in the way of finding a real cure for the disease and our leaders must collectively say no to those tendencies. We must put the health of our people in our hearts first and allow others to follow.
Receipt and administration of ARVs must be opened up to full-scale research.
Daniel Opio
Gulu
However, it hurts me to hear that young girls, some younger than 16 years and others who have lived with the killer virus for over 10 years, being reflected in the reports without mentioning any progress made towards finding a cure. These young girls are the mothers of the nation who must be treated from a human rights perspective.
Unfortunately, their hope for good health, peace and happiness is nowhere near the horizon as science seems to have failed. Africa has been through disaster, ruin and grief and we now live in constant danger and fear. Has God not blessed the world with scientists to give answers to our most pressing challenges?
The answers we always get about HIV treatment is always ARVs which only hold the virus but does not completely destroy it. Has science failed completely to find a real cure for HIV or is a game by developed world? While people have deepened their understanding on HIV/AIDS and have developed for themselves strong partnerships, African stakeholders must stand up and demand for a lasting cure for HIV if the theme of universal access is to hold water.
There are some discriminatory tendencies that stand in the way of finding a real cure for the disease and our leaders must collectively say no to those tendencies. We must put the health of our people in our hearts first and allow others to follow.
Receipt and administration of ARVs must be opened up to full-scale research.
Daniel Opio
Gulu