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Step up the fight against HIV/AIDS
2006-02-07 07:42:08
By Majuto Juma
It is now a living fact that HIV/Aids has become a topical issue in many circles, leaders talk about it in their speeches, newspapers, televisions, radios etc.
If we ought to be a responsible generation, which cares about our children’s future, we need to talk about this particular subject.
The main reason for doing this is to discuss our fears and insecurities concerning this particular issue.
After all every Tanzanian has lost at least someone to HIV and AIDS and has at least a relative or two if not more living with it right now.
The big question on everyone’s lips right now is what do we do with this monster, which has been around for a very long time and is refusing to get a cure?
Many possible suggestions have been given in order to fight against this disease but still new infections are recorded on a daily basis, does it mean that the suggestions given do not work?
The most common suggestions given are: A abstinence, B being faithful, C condomising which we all know, but it seems they are not working that much for more and more people are getting infected on a daily basis.
One other method, which comes to mind, is circumcision, process of removing the foreskin from the male sexual organ.
Medically it has been proved that this process reduces by 60 percent the chances of contracting HIV.
Is it the time for parents to consider seriously circumcising their children? Even adult males, should they consider this option?
It does not necessarily follow that if a circumcised male has sexual intercourse with an infected female they won’t contract the disease; it’s just that their chance of contracting the disease is reduced by 60 percent.
On the contrary there are those who believe that circumcision should be discarded totally because it is very painful to the victims and does not necessarily prevent the infection.
Some groups are lobbying for its total eradication because elders who are not surgeons do it and they use sub standard equipment such that at times people die of complications arising from circumcision.
The situation has become so desperate that there is need to look around for desperate solutions as well.
The whole issue of circumcision has some religious as well as cultural connotations no wonder why it is common in Moslem religion, Jews and people from certain countries.
If one looks at the HIV/Aids statistics, one will come to the realisation that the figures are very low in Moslem countries it might be because of circumcision, though some other factors like religious rules which prohibit men from being promiscuous come into play.
If one compares Tanzania and Botswana, one will see that Tanzania has a lower incidence of HIV infections partly because there is quite a large number of Moslems who are circumcised as compared to Botswana where Moslems are extremely few.
Other factors should also be considered in this particular issue, does circumcision play a significant role in this matter?
Most people in this country hardly get to 40 years, there are very few who will see their sons and daughters grow to be adults, because of HIV/Aids.
Isn’t this very scary? something has to be done and the only person who can do something is you, not your father, mother, brother or sister.
Even the government can hardly do anything on this one.
Individuals should see to it that they do something before the monster devours this great country.
A lot can be done to prevent this disease and people should try all they can before the disease catches up with them.
However, Pastor Mongella from Arusha insists that there is one solution to the problem of HIV/Aids.
My dear brother, God told the people long back that, he would destroy them unless they change their life style. There is a lot of iniquity going on.
Married women are running around with lovers, married men have long been on record for this notorious vice so how can this generation survive the wrath of God.
Unless people change their life style, the disease is here to stay and people will perish,” he said.
Neema Mganyi a housewife staying in Dar es Salaam agreed with pastor Mongella,the problem is more serious than people imagine, young girls as young as 14 years old are running around with a number of men what kind of life is this?
One girl who is my neighbour had the guts to tell me that no woman can stay with one man.
She told me that a woman needs three men, one who provides for her financially, the other who satisfies her sexually and the third one for stability and in most cases this will be the husband.
How can this generation be rescued from the jaws of HIV/Aids if we have people with such a mentality in society?
Society is fighting against a very dangerous and powerful enemy HIV/Aids and we need to put all our energy together in order to win this war.
People need to change their attitudes towards sexual relationships, this will help a lot.
There is need to debate and look at all the possible ways to combat this monster which has claimed a number of our relatives and the working class in our society.
Let us all fight this terrible disease by doing the right things, negligence will cost our lives, and everyone should take the responsibility so that we can win the war.
Let us all unite and fight against the HIV/Aids pandemic.
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