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Everyone must be a soldier
2006-12-24 09:48:32
By Correspondent Nasser Kigwangallah, just back from Arusha
The government has been urged to involve the people at the grassroots level in HIV/AIDS policies and activities so that the war against the pandemic can be won.
The call to that effect is contained in a resolution unanimously passed by over 1,400 participants at the 3rd National Multi-Sectoral Aids Conference in Tanzania which ended in Arusha this week.
Reading the resolution on behalf of all delegates, Professor Samwel Massele of Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences also called on all people wherever they are in the country to fully participate in one way or the other in the war against HIV/AIDS.
”We have been invaded by a dangerous disease, it is essential that we use all means available at our disposal to make sure that the enemy is defeated,” he said.
He said in order to tackle the enemy effectively, he urged the people to change their behaviour, or else it would be useless and the war on HIV/AIDS would remain a mere talk.
He said the government should ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS were treated and cared for and that they regularly receive Antiretroviral drugs.
He said the fight against the disease lies with the individual person who should make sure that he protects himself/herself from being infected by the virus.
Stigma and discrimination against PLHAs should be eliminated and that these people a treated like the rest, he stresed.
HIV/AIDS could effectively be fought if older people stopped luring young girls into sexual relationship because of their influence or money, Professor Massele stressed.
He said cultural and religious sentiments should be avoided if the pandemic , which had drained a lot of the country’s resourses, is to be tamed.
”Illicit drugs should be banned in order to protect young girls and boys from being infected with HIV/AIDS,” he said.
He said HIV/AIDS exists in every section and corner of our country, and so the crisis should not be treated as a joke, else, the people would be annihilated.
The government should continue to recognise and assist efforts of the people, the NGOs and donor community by putting in place necessary policies which would be fit in fighting the pandemic, Prof. Massele added.
He said voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) should be made mandatory so that people know their status and guard themselves against being infected.
”VCT is an effective tool in which an individual person could contribute in the war against the pandemic,” he said.
He called on the government to take stern action against all NGOs that embezzle public funds aimed at curbing the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
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