quote:

---

Originally posted by gambiabev

Alhassan, why do you think aids is affecting Africa more? Because of lack of good screening? lack of good drugs for treatment? general health and malnutrition? Or is the most important fact that because it originated in Africa it got a strong hold there before people realised what was happening.

Knowledge and Education gives people an informed choice. They know then what they should do.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by sab

Greetings, The Condom - Religion exerts a strong influence on HIV education projects worldwide. Islamic fundamentalism in parts of Africa and the Arab Middle East has often led to Aids prevention work receiving a low priority in order to avoid offending the sensibilities of Muslim society, i.e. extra-marital sex, prostitution and homosexuality are unacceptable, while condoms may be used ONLY for family planning purposes. Thus HIV prevention campaigns avoid any discussion of SAFER SEX; they focus instead on chastity, and fidelity within marriage. Religious doctrine may often undermine rather than facilitate the efforts of HIV educators. Despite figures being released by the WHO before a visit by the late Pope John Paul 11 on a tour in Africa, he announced his opposition to the use of condoms for HIV prevention, stating that they would only encourage 'the very behaviour which has greatly contributed to the expansion of the disease, as has the present Pope Joseph Ratzinger… Millions will loose their lives to HIV/AIDS, and millions could be saved through an extensive education programme of which should be included the - Mother to baby transmission, passing on from mother to infant by breastfeeding, the receiving of blood products, spilled body fluids, sterilising hospital equipment, infection control, dealing with waste disposal, needle stick injuries. So you see the 'promiscuous' females are only a small part of a very large problem.

About five years ago the prostitutes of The Gambia made international medical news. Reports from the MRC/Fajara re the 'real prostitutes' who were BEING MONITORED after providing a positive test had been found to have produced immunity. An exciting find in the scientific world of medicine. It goes that all is not lost in their profession.
The President as Chairman of the National Aids Council, programme stated that the ‘Kanilai magic water’ that was for sale in Banjul earlier this year would help in the cure of AIDS, amongst other diseases - what an absolute winner for the electoral vote! (If it was needed) This statement spread like wildfire among the less educated and in my opinion was disastrous to the trainers in the clinic’s trying their utmost to educate the communities in HIV/AIDS. He should have been committed to a positive speech for a long term extensive education for all over twelve years of age - taking a lesson from South & East Africa, knowing full well it is moving at speed and getting to close for complacency.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sister Omega

Yes Serenata, I have often thought how lucky I was not to have the blood transfusion because you are right it could of easily been me.

When AIDS first hit the headlines in 1980's the focus was on Uganda being the place where the diease originated from. Ironically 10 years later it was reported in the press that the majority of people who they thought had AIDS had Malaria and revovered from it. Two years ago some Ethiopian friends of mine informed me that there were incidences of AIDs breaking out in Ethiopia once people had been given immunisations by NGO's and the local people were suspicious of them, and stopped having them done. This was supported by a Health Worker in a HIV/AIDs Programme he was speaking out against the correlation between Immunisation programmes and AIDS. He was based in England and subsequently died under mysterious circumstances last year.

Another concern of my friends was the indiscriminate way that condoms where being given to peoplein Ethiopia without explaining to them how to wear them. One of my friends commented that some of the rural people thought that they could wear them like a pendent around their necks to ward off evil spirits. It just goes to show that if condoms are going to be given to communities by NGO's they should at least put on workshops to explain to the local population on how to use them.

Peace

Sister Omega

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by kondorong

AIDS IS A DISEASE OF THE POOR UNFORTUNATELY. IT SEEMS ONLY THE POOR ARE SERIOUSLY DYING OF IT. RICH PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD DRUGS, BETTER DIET STILL CONTINUE NORMAL LIVES SOMETIMES BETTER THAN THOSE WITHOUT THE DISEASE.

---