Maurice's A large part of this issue has been taken over by an appreciation of how Stoke and Stafford commemorated World AIDS 1998. I think this is right and proper. It is important that we reflect upon what took place and evaluate the events. I, for one, want to say a big thank you to everyone in Staffordshire Buddies who turned up to support the two MUSICAID Concerts. This was support on a massive scale and I was truly impressed and feel greatly encouraged. On the down-side, some not too pleasant facts have surfaced, the most significant being the apparently widespread ignorance about World AIDS Day and the Red Ribbon and what they each stand for.The other worrying factor was the complacency which seemed to be found every which way you turned. People are actually under the impression that AIDS & HIV are under control and no longer pose a major threat. I won't elaborate further I think the articles on page 4 say it all.
Can you help? An e-mail message arrived today which I felt I just could not ignore. It came via EuroPoz which is basically an electronic news group in Spanish. I felt compelled to devote the major part of my page to its contents, as I felt so deeply moved by it. It will at least give you some idea of what is happening in other parts of the World. This is the English translation of the message: "The New York Times recently reported the death of Gugu Diamini in South Africa. A 36-year-old mother of a son, Gugu died last December 22 as a result of the beating she received by neighbours in her own home. They had accused her of having brought shame to their community (Kwamashu, in the outskirts of Durban) after she openly revealed on December 1st -World AIDS Day - that she was infected with HIV. Gugu worked as a volunteer for the National Association of People Living With HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) of South Africa. According to the United Nations, three million people in South Africa have the infection. In KwaZulu-Natal, the province most affected by the illness, and where Gugu lived, up to 30 percent of the adult population lives with HIV/AIDS. On Monday December 21, Gugu was physically attacked by a man, who ordered her to keep silent like other people living with HIV/AIDS. Although she requested help from the police, they didn't do anything, according to reports made by her friends to the local newspaper. That same night, a group tore down her house and Gugu was brutally stoned and hit with sticks. She died the following day. In spite of the scourge of the epidemic in South Africa, people living with HIV/AIDS are afraid to reveal their condition due to the hostility they know they will have to face. The murder of Gugu Dlamini not only shows the profound discrimination that people living with HIV/AIDS suffer in many countries. It is also a reflection of the flagrant violence that primarily affects women around the world, both inside and outside their homes, without assistance from authorities when this is requested. The members of the VelHache electronic forum condemn the cruel murder of Gugu Dlamini and all the forms of violence and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. We call on all organisations that work in AIDS and those that are sensitive to this cause, to:
Thank you for your solidarity!" If you are on the internet (which you obviously are ! - online ed), maybe you could take a couple of minutes to make your views felt. Christmas in bed I hope that you all had a very happy festive season. One of our members had to spend Christmas in Ward 70 but I am happy to report that he is now making good progress and should be out soon. He is the first person to use one of the new rooms. Going to see him is a bit like visiting a Presidential Suite - but there was no Monica Lewinski hiding underneath the bed... so far as I could tell! Take care until I get back from Spain! Yes I'm off for a winter break! Yipee!! (Just had to get that in!) Love M |
On
a lighter note, I was recently informed that I was once
considered so attractive that I could "pull ducks
from water", a most ironic remark, considering that
I currently enjoy the libido of an ageing snail. It was
no joy to find that similar depressed sexual drives had
been experienced by others taking Retonovir as part of
their HIV treatment. However, I have heard that switching
to a new cocktail without Retonovir can revive the
libido. I know one such individual who has been
rejuvenated beyond belief. Good news indeed, but for me,
with an undetectable viral load and a rising CD4 count I
think I will stick with my depressed libido for a bit
longer. Besides it gives me more time to read and write!