In the lecture "Pandemic: My Country Is On Its Knees" by Stephen Lewis, he describes his travels to South Africa in the 1960s. Stephen speaks of how excited he was after stepping onto the soil; "the music, the energy, the kindness, the generosity"; everything about this newly independent country was exciting. It wasn't until Stephen travelled back to South Africa that he was shocked to see how much it had changed. South Africa wasn't "struggling under the weight of oppression, disease and dispair", it was thought that it would triumph over everything, however, it became "induced by Structural Adjustment Programs" and "Aids". Africa has been torn apart by this pandemic, the world needs to know what is truly going on, so that we can help those in desperate need of our help.
With many African doctors being "poeched" into going to the United Kingdom, it leaves little to no doctors around to take care of the sick. Stephen can only describe the hosiptals as a "picture right out of dante", 2 people per bed with someone underneath laying on the concrete floor. They have to find anyone to give out the antiretroviral drug and with only one nurse on the floor for 10 hours the situation is "impossible".
Stephen goes on to say that some help is being done from groups like the PMTCT and MSF, but Africa is still in need of more help. Stephen is opening our eyes to what is going on to make us realize that everyone is capable of helping, so why isn't more being done?
What can I do to help? And what are you willing to do to help?
I think for myself, i would be willing to help spread the knowledge about this problem to the public in hope that it will open there eyes as it did mine to the devastation this is causing Africa. If it came down to it I would even consider going there and using my carpenters ticket to its advantage and maybe build shelters, schools or fix hospitals. I would hope that the old power in numbers would come into effect or to lead by example. Nice work .
ReplyDeleteAlthough the world is facing so much problem right now, I think this problem should be one of U.N priority because this will cause a huge problem in the near future if not given much attention.The only help that the can give right now is to spread the situation right now with the help of internet(Awareness).And by means of prayers.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeena,
ReplyDeleteBecause Stephen Lewis's essay is a call to action, he would appreciate the question you raise: What can I do to help?
While Stephen Lewis visited many countries in Southern Africa, he was banned from entering South Africa because of his stand against Apartheid.
Recently, Canada pledged more aid to Africa. Harper told the UN, as reported Monday by CBC News, that Canada will increase its contributions to the Global Fund, which fights HIV-AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries. The government says Canada will give $540 million over three years to the fund, which already receives $150 million a year from Canada.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/09/21/un-canada-millennium-development.html#ixzz112FyXgxM