The amount of resources dedicated towards an agenda is inversely proportional to the priority which it is given, hence demonstrating commitment towards meeting set milestones. Today, just like yesterday, the following was reiterated during the UNAIDS board meeting: We are working towards: Zero new infections. Zero HIV related deaths. Zero stigma and discrimination. I believe these goals are achievable, and there is need for concerted effort by all stakeholders in achieving universal access to treatment and prevention for example.
I sat through the meeting wondering if all commitments being made would be met and how? Or is this going to turn out to be just yet another set of broken promises? HIV is a reality, and continues to wreck homes, villages, nations, and communities. Resources for HIV & AIDS seem to be dwindling, but we continue to make more promises. It seems the donors are using the global recession to justify cutbacks in HIV & AIDS funding, and backtracking on promises made.
I worry. I worry about how people are comfortable flashing slides that demonstrate how Africa, specifically, Southern Africa – (and mostly young women in Southern Africa), bear the most HIV/AIDS burden. But when it comes to committing resources, there is much reluctance. I see no graphs, there are no slides.
Why is it that only a small fraction of countries in Southern Africa {the hardest hit by HIV} will qualify for the Global Fund for HIV, TB & Malaria Round 10? Where will the money to support the rest of the countries come from? I think there are too many slides flashing around that people have ceased to realize that statistics don’t die… that it is actually human beings that die; our sisters, mothers, fathers, children, workers, leaders, etc. And even when they die, the suffering continues. So for example… an old woman whose five children succumb to AIDS and die, because they were not able to access ARVs, is stigmatized for having raised children of loose morals.
So in other words, stigma is with us until we reach universal access to treatment and prevention. And stigma breeds stress; one of the biggest killers. In case you didn’t know; it is stressful for an HIV positive person to watch hopelessly, somebody in the same situation as them waste away and die. I believe there is much strength and hope, and faith, and positivity {and many other good effects} in looking around and finding that an HIV positive person who lives in the same village as yourself {not someone on TV, in a book, or being paraded during a World AIDS Day launch- and made to give ‘testimonies’, and the Guest speaker once to be in as many pictures with them etc}, but someone you grew up with, and stays two houses away from you can actually lead normal lives, because they have timely access to comprehensive health services, food, and psychosocial support.
The UNAIDS strategy and operational framework holds the hope for hundreds of people in my village, those infected or affected with HIV. The expenditure cutting mechanisms {on staffing, travel costs, and other service costs} that UN agencies have committed to putting in place are good steps in the right direction, and all stakeholders should plan to cut down on service costs.
It is only when there is an indication and strides made towards financing these plans of Action that I can start dreaming about that day. That day when a Ministry of Health and Child Welfare vehicle shall arrive in my village; I can imagine the dance, ululation, song, drums, dance, as the children and women {and the few men recruited through ‘male-involvement-efforts’} hail and celebrate the arrival of the very first consignment of ARVs at the local clinic. And hopefully boxes and boxes of a speed test CD4 count instruments, one similar to the glycometre that the UNAIDS Executive Director, Mr. Sidibe showed the board yesterday. The Doctor {who is a woman} and the Sister-in-charge {a man}, are here, not for the hand over take over ceremony, but will be resident at our clinic for months, to run a training/orientation/ support course on how to run this one-stop-shop with the local nurses and nurse AIDS; on management and treatment of opportunistic infections, to enrolling people for treatment. And when the men realize it’s serious, they too shall join the dance in celebration.
The question is when shall this happen? Where is the money? I urge the UNAIDS Board not to postpone the TRIPS agenda, because the developing world needs the drugs. Women, girls, men, children, families, are counting on this gathering to keep the dream alive, and ensure that we do not postpone the TRIPS agenda, because manufacturing generic drugs is important in the journey towards achieving Universal Access.
In the mean time, {and most importantly}, our governments should continue to recognise the importance of creating environments, in-country, that does not exacerbate people’s vulnerabilities. For instance, it is critical to build a culture of respect and tolerance, and protection of all citizens regardless their gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality or any other status. The entry point is Law reform (and recognizing of course that laws are not self implementing).
I hope to continue to see improvements {by our own governments} in ensuring that women, girls, sex workers, and other vulnerable groups’ rights are protected from sexual violence and other forms of violence, so that we can maintain unfettered access to our full sexual and reproductive health and rights, in the context of HIV. This is an integral part of the commitment to combating HIV and AIDS among women.
I am also anxious to see how our governments will implement country plans, {beyond launching}, who will be involved in steering the processes and at what levels. Whilst donor support is still important, how do governments intend to scale up efforts to harness locally available resources in order to finance health, and to utilize these efficiently?
African governments can further demonstrate commitment by ensuring the development of expenditure tracking mechanisms, and ensuring that women’s groups are involved in tracking progress in this fight.
Indeed, Africa needs the money. For the sake of the women, the girls, the children, and all the other vulnerable groups, the world should not give up on us. Not just yet! In the mean time, I firmly believe, that the world has got enough resources to feed and heal us all, but not our greed and indulgence. Therefore all stakeholders have a duty to commit to utilize available resources efficiently and effectively, in delivering results.
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