Who deserves the crown?

The world is set for the World AIDS Day on December 1. Yes, even when most of our tear gas canisters are being thrown by coronavirus today, you need to remember that HIV still exists.

It would be stupid for government to ignore Besigye because sleepless nights are now coming from Bobi Wine.

So, join me in calling to mind those who perished in the AIDS struggle and expressing appreciation for those whose efforts are keeping HIV at bay.

It was Hillary Rodham Clinton who first talked about ending AIDS in our lifetime. That was on November 9, 2011, when she was still US Secretary of State. I remember giving it a well thought out reaction, which was, and I quote: "Hmmm!"

At that time, we still had 7.3% of adults living with HIV (with Kalangala at 10.6% prevalence), 160,000 had acquired HIV in the previous year 2010, population of AIDS orphans had crossed the 1 million mark, yet we could only treat about 140,000 with ARVs.

Condom use was estimated to be at 40% and corruption in the AIDS sector was at 75%.

You needed to be in People Power to believe we would outlive AIDS.

Then, in 2013, Uganda achieved its tipping point! This is, well, the point at which Bobi Wine supporters start arresting NRM people for failing to observe SOPs.

But in the HIV world, it is where a country starts giving antiretroviral treatment (ARVs) to more people living with HIV than those getting infected with the virus in a given year.

Ideally, when a tap is dripping onto a floor, the solution is not mopping to keep the floor dry; you are better off closing the tap.

But in the HIV world, the tap was stuck in one position as people failed to spell the word ABSTINENCE and preferred to have unprotected sex with partners whose status they didn't know.

So more infected people were dripping on the floor for ARVs to mop off some from dying.

But the floor could not dry up because more water was dripping onto it than was being mopped off.

The tipping point was when more water was mopped off than was dripping. That effectively started a rolling back of AIDS, and its sponsor, HIV.

Last year, we had 53,000 new infections, but recruited 85% of people with HIV were on ARVs, meaning that the quarter pin is showing signs of easing.

The leopard is retreating! Like for President Trump in the US, the clock is ticking towards zero. The wise ones shouldn't die; you want to see the death of AIDS, don't you?

Just like Tibuhaburwa, Kyagulanyi, Tumukunde, Katumba, et al, Biden is rehearsing his swearing-in speech.

In it, he plans to thank everybody who contributed to his victory. Those who held the most stinking roles in the struggle will feel bad being rounded up with those who cheered from a safe distance.

In fact, it is the latter who will celebrate loud and long, thumping their chests, until their hands are too swollen to make a fist.

In the HIV world, we shall also put on the crown. Victory belongs to all because the protracted war was fought by everybody.

And that includes you, that time you removed your knickers, but then remembered HIV and put them back on again, remember?

Or that night you demanded a condom, or chose to get too silly drunk in the face of sexual services.

So, we will thank you. However, you won't be called to our victory platform.

That will be populated by Museveni, if he is still president and if he isn't, the new guy, even when his name will be Katumba Oyee and his bullet against HIV needs a microscope to find.

Both of these will be hailed for their astute leadership. Then the guys at the HIV frontline, even when they are now too fat to climb the podium.

And, of course, the media, which is always thanked as a bribe for future cooperation.

We shall clap; we always do even when Pastor Mayambala promises every Ugandan a monthly upkeep (no, he called it salary) of not less than sh50,000.

But, while we all gave our contribution, the AIDS crown can only go to one head. Which head will that be: If you entrust me with providing an answer, I will not give the crown to any Ugandan! Not even the president, researchers Kaleebu, Philly Lutaaya, Noerine or Nanyonga of the soil! Yes, they cast big stones at HIV, but so did I when I interrupted my delicacies with condoms.

The truth is that we haven't managed to roll back HIV because of good policies, condoms (which many Ugandans didn't use) being faithful (ask the pastors), abstaining (spare me that one) loud noise, tear gas or wise leaderships; no! We have captured HIV's command post by using foot soldiers called ARVs.

The victory was procured by these medicines which stop people from dying, stop people living with HIV from being infectious and can now prevent the HIV negative people from getting infected when exposed to the virus.

My victory crown, therefore, would go to antiretroviral drugs and their ecosystem, which includes the researchers, funders, volunteers in studies, activists who demand access and us, the media, who need to be bribed for future co-operation.

Thanks to ARVs, you stubbornly ignored all the prevention tools, but still remained alive. You can remain HIV negative because your sexual partner is taking ARVs.

You can also take ARVs (Post Exposure Prophylaxis - PEP) after waking up naked in a wrong bed! You can escape infection by taking ARVs before a risky exposure (Pre Exposure Prophylaxis - PrEP).

The latest shield in our arsenal in an ARV injection (PrEP), which can offer an 89% risk reduction for eight weeks!

It is ARVs that stop mothers from passing on the virus to their unborn babies during pregnancy, birth and the mothering thereafter.

That has saved 97% of babies who are now being born negative by positive mothers.

There are also ARVs in microbicides, which women insert to destroy the virus in the semen during unprotected sex.

I have seen ARVs force death to a screeching halt, engage a reverse gear and practically return a bed-ridden, death bound person back to life! I know religious people will force God into this, political people will force good leadership into it, as economics bring in sponsors and strategists bring in the media.

Alright, in order not to spoil our victory, we can applaud everybody.

But still, give the crown to one head: ARVs. That said, don't draw your sword and lurch at every sex opportunity just because I announced an end to AIDS.

There are people who die, like Garang, after the city has fallen and the throne is vacant.

It is much safer for you to remain buckled up, until the plane comes to a complete stop.