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HIV/AIDS: BREAKING DOWN THE DOOR OF IGNORANCE FOR AFRICANS IN DIASPORA. By The focus the last one month and years to come will be on the fight against terrorism globally, as a result of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington, DC. As we are all condemning, helping and praying for all the victims in the terrorist attack in America, we Africans in diaspora should also focus on the epidemic that is ravaging the African continent, and we can all do this by pledging and contributing during this session to Africa HIV/AIDS projects and initiative to help our people back in Africa and in various communities in which we live. We have to engage in the fight against this disease from our various comfort zone.
HIV/AIDS prevention and education in Africa is an issue that has been getting attention worldwide recently, with help and support coming from United Nations, World Health Organization, United States Government, other Governments, charitable Organizations and NGOS etc. These efforts has revived attention to the problem of HIV/AIDS in Africa, and has come with it a lot of positive results, for example, The 2001 Noble Peace Prize conferred on the United Nation Secretary General Mr. Koffi Annan, was as a result of his effort on HIV/AIDS prevention and education in African and World Wide.
In as much as HIV/AIDS prevention and education is focused on Africa, Africans in diaspora like in Washington, DC area and other foreign lands should be taking advantage of the resources and facilities which are available in the communities in which they reside. For example, in Washington, DC area, an organization which is readily open and available to Africans for HIV/AIDS prevention and education is the HIV Community Coalition (HCC) of Metropolitan Washington DC area, is according to HCC policy “ A group that participates actively in HIV/AIDS prevention and education. A Confederation of people living with , or affected by HIV disease in Washington Metropolitan area. It represents, unify, empower and advocates on behalf of its members and in the community. The HIV Community Coalition seeks to present a collective voice on HIV/AIDS related policy making issue, programs and services, while at the same time reflecting the diversity of the community it represents.”
There are also prevention and education services in most foreign communities where Africans resides, and we have to encourage each other to take advantage of these services for our own well being.
Africans in Washington, DC Metropolitan Area and other foreign lands have to wake up to the reality of HIV/AIDS by involving our communities, students, Cab drivers, professionals, women, Children and Adults to encourage each other to get tested, community education and prevention, activism, advocacy, public policy involvement as it will benefit our people in partnership with organization like HCC and other organizations that will help to get our voices and desire out in the community. The time for silence and ignorance has passed and it is time for action. African Community, Community leaders, ambassadors, religious leaders needs to get involved in this effort.
As an African myself and trying to understand the havoc HIV/AID epidemic has caused in Africa, I also try to reflect on how it is affecting we Africans who are not living in Africa, but have to carry the burden and pain this disease is creating for our families and countries back in Africa. The best we all can do is to try with our knowledge, exposure, education and skills to help spread the news of prevention and education to our people in Africa and in Diaspora.
According to the Director/Head of Board, HIV Community Coalition of Metropolitan Washington, DC (HCC) Mr. Sundiata Najie Alaye who is one of the strongest voice on HIV/AIDS prevention and education in Washington, DC area; he said “ We are fighting Ignorance on HIV/AIDS and not the disease itself in our community” He also said that because of cultural impediments and tradition, that Africans in Washington, DC area and USA at large, needs to be using amenities and facilities available to fight this disease in our communities. MR. Alaye also emphasized the concern of many Africans on issue of illegal immigrants and non-Citizens and the fear to come forward to get help, because of their immigration status and other legal impediments; he said issues like these should not stop people from coming to get these services, because it should not scare any body from coming forward to get tested and receive other services. He said, HCC does not deny any body service because of their immigration status.
HCC has an African representative and this energetic and active Woman, MS. Victoria Oluchi Nwabuisi is a voice for Africans in Washington Metropolitan area, who will listen and direct African to the services and resources they need. According to Ms. Nwabuisi she said “For Africans in the metro Area, The HIV community Coalition of Metropolitan DC has the services necessary to help address and prevent this deadly disease in our community.
The sad statistics of HIV/AIDS is evident when records and information as provided by Afrilife inc. http://www.afrilife.org and Africa AIDS Watch http://www.africaidswatch.org (AAW), a group with head office in Washington DC metro are, that is very active in HIV/AIDS prevention and education in Africa and for Africans in diaspora. According to its Director/President Mr. Godson Offoaro , he said “AAW sees a desperate need for its work in Africa and Africans in diaspora. While Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for only one-tenth of the global population, it currently carries the burden of more than 80% of AIDS deaths worldwide. In the past decade 12 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa have died of AIDS-one quarter of them CHILDREN! Two million persons died of AIDS last year - five times the number of AIDS-related deaths in the United States since the first case was identified nearly two decades ago. Everyday, an additional 11,000 persons are infected in Sub Sahara Africa with the HIV virus – this amounts to one infection every 8 seconds.”
Mr. Offoaro also explained and pointed out that, "South Africa has the largest number of people per capita living with HIV/AIDS in the world with 19.9% of its adult population infected with HIV. With a total of 4.2 million infected South Africans, the HIV epidemic will produce large numbers of AIDS orphans and by 2005 it is projected that there will be nearly a million children under the age of 15 who will have lost either of their parents to AIDS. The number of orphans created by the AIDS epidemic also overwhelms Kenya with more than one million AIDS orphans. Almost 2.5 million of its adult population, more than 50% women, is infected with AIDS. Nigeria has the fourth worst infection level in Sub-Saharan Africa; with an estimated 3 million people infected and little attention has been paid to its rate of infection. To date 1.7 million Nigerians have died and it is particularly exposed to an acceleration of the spread of the virus”
Fellow Africans and people of African descent, We have to do more in our communities to turn the tide of this destructive disease. A lot has been given to us as it is, looking back at our history ,and doing some comparisons; more is expected from all of us to do our best to make our communities healthy, prosperous and strong. Any effort in this fight in our community will be highly welcomed.
Ugo Harris Nigeria Democracy and Justice Project Washington, DC abujarock@yahoo.com October 2001
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