Friday, December 01, 2006
Remember World Aids Day!
Today is World Aids Day.I will have the flag out, flying in the wind, with a black ribbon attached to remember all those who have died as a result of this dreadful disease.
How did it become so big? How can it be that over 27 million people have already died from it, and it is still not the most important message that every person in a leadership position is making a stand against?
It’s crazy!
South Africa is starting to realize the error of its ways, and has thankfully silenced the biggest clown in the circus, our very own Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, by taking advantage of her own ill health by sending in the cleaners to get rid of all the shit she was talking before, that didn’t help this countries situation. I wonder how many lives that have been lost, she is directly responsible for, with her quack theories?
I mean – look at some of the stats for SA from 2005:
- More than 10% of South Africans are HIV+
- More than 800 South Africans per day are dying of HIV related illnesses, approximately 300 000 per year!
- It is estimated that there will be 3 million Aids orphans created within the next 10 years.
- 30% of pregnant South Africans are HIV+
- 16% of South Africans aged 15-49 are HIV+
- 8% of men in South Africa are HIV+
- 13% of women in South Africa are HIV+
Those are not positive. And although Manto’s stance about veggies isn’t totally off the mark – yes we all need to eat healthier to be able to lead healthier lifestyles – she definitely caused the death of many, many people by telling them that ARV’s are toxic, and just a ploy by the greedy West to make more money! Crazy!But – lets get away from Manto – cos I wanto – and focus on what intelligent people are saying.
People like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Richard Branson and Nelson Mandela; the message that our little hero Nkosi Johnson gained so much respect for, before he himself died from the disease. “I want people to understand about AIDS, to be careful and respect AIDS. You can't get AIDS if you touch, hug, kiss, or hold hands with someone who is infected.
Care for us and accept us--we are all human beings.
We are normal. We have hands. We have feet. We can walk, we can talk, we have needs just like everyone else. Don't be afraid of us. We are all the same!”
We all have to make a difference, make people around us aware of the realities of the disease, and protect ourselves against it.
Condoms aren’t the most romantic things to take to a date, but damn, they sure make a difference in the long run! And now that we have Pronto, sex has another novelty to make protection more fun!
So today, remember those who have died; think of those that have been left behind; and let’s educate them about how they can get to stick around a little longer.Remember that more people have died from HIV Aids related illnesses than the sum total of all the wars, famines & floods, and that this continent cannot develop into a power-house if we become a continent of orphans. Then we will always be looking to others to bail us out.
