|
|
 |
| CHILDREN
WITH AIDS |
| “Fathers
have eaten green grapes thus their children’s teeth are on edge
” |
AIDS
IN AFRICA: a battle which can be won (Tanzania)
CUAMM Statement on AIDS by Marzia Franzetti, co-ordinator AIDS
group |
|
 |
|
|
Rome (Fides Service) – CUAMM -
Doctors with Africa, which has worked to improve the health of people
in Sub-Saharan Africa since the 1950s found itself faced with the
HIV/AIDS pandemic from the start and it has sought to live up to its
principles with the sources available and together with the health
policies of the countries in which its operates.
International attention for the problem of AIDS in poor countries
particularly in Sub Saharan Africa has grown. Public opinion has been
mobilised and many voices have been raised to deplore the injustice
that 80% of patients have no access to treatment and a Global Fund
to fight AIDS, TB and malaria has been set up.
CUAMM, Doctors with Africa felt the need to verify its position and
plans with regard to AIDS aware that today it is impossible to engage
in programmes of health-care cooperation without addressing the problem
of AIDS.
With this in mind CUAMM, Doctors with Africa formed a work group of
persons competent in the various disciplines inherent to the problem
of AIDS which started a debate on the subject involving other NGOs
with similar objectives and fields of intervention. The first result
was a Statement on Aids in the World, in English and Italian presented
in November 2001. The second results was a statement on CUAMM, Doctors
with Africa position with regard to HIV/AIDS in Africa open to constant
verification and possible changes on the basis of scientific progress
and changes in the situations in countries of intervention.
The statement does not offer a “magic formula” to solve
the problem of AIDS in Africa: the means we present are the same as
those suggested by WHO and specialised International bodies. But it
does try to adapt the methods of fighting AIDS to the different countries
and concrete situations in which we are present. Not everything suggested
and written in the guidelines is immediately possible or applicable.
We give some principles and general values which cannot be overlooked
when dealing with AIDS in Africa and we identified essential requisites
to be presented in view of a properly planned and effective project
.
Here are the main points of the statement:
? Poverty – income, education, healthcare and social services
– is the main cause of uncontrolled spread of AIDS pandemic
in Africa and the south of the world.
? The fight against AIDS is therefore a fight against poverty calling
for major commitment for social justice and equity at the planetary
level.
? Fighting poverty in the field of health-care means first of all,
rebuilding and re-vitalising local health care systems, to enable
them to meet the primary health needs of the people including the
poorest and weakest people.
? Activity to prevent and stop AIDS must not be seen as something
isolated, a vertical project, it must be part of basic health care
services, Primary Health Care: only then will it be available for
all.
? It is therefore indispensable to take into account social-cultural
aspects: decisions must be taken in view of the local context in collaboration
with the people and its institutional representatives.
> Project to address HIV/AIDS must be thought in multi-disciplinary
terms, using medical and anthropological competencies to optimise
interventions “with” the people.
> It is fundamental to promote and protect the position of women,
who play a crucial role in social relations and family management;
> The extreme peculiarity of the HIV/AIDS pandemic presents a serious
risk of violation of human rights and discrimination for infected
persons or persons in danger of being infected: any intervention demands
therefore respect on the part of health workers for the dignity and
the rights of persons infect by the HIV virus. The HIV test must never
be imposed or carried out without the person's knowledge or consent.
It must be preceded, accompanied and followed “counselling”:
Voluntary Counselling and Testing = VCT is the key to every activity
of prevention and treatment.
> An essential and indispensable element of programmes to fight
AIDS is social support for the patients and their families with special
care for the problem of orphans.
Aware of the enormity of the difficulties CUAMM is convinced that
it is possible to fights AIDS in Africa with appropriate activity,
effective and lasting to counter the spread of AIDS in Africa and
reduce its effects.
We believe Africa has the human resources and courage necessary
to face the challenge: our unavoidable duty is to offer concrete
and consistent financial and technical support, discreetly and with
respect, without any imposition or force with an attitude of sincere
solidarity and collaboration.
(AP) (3/4/2004 Agenzia Fides)
|
|
|
|
|
