Does anyone know what the HIV rate is in The Gambia? Ylva

On Thu, 21 Apr 2005, Momodou S Sidibeh wrote:

>  Oh yes. I was unable to determine how widespread the effort was. But the
> workshops - i.e the ones I learned about - are organised mainly by women
> activists affiliated to the Community Skills Improvement Project. While not
> entirely autonomous, local organisations are involved in launching
> workshops, often inside schools during week-ends where a number of HIV/AIDS
> patients are invited to speak about their experiences and answer questions
> from audiences. With tremendous courage they would narrate their own
> contraction of the disease, social problems after diagnoses and their hopes
> and concerns. Information is also given on probable causes of infection and
> precaution against infection.  I briefly visited two workshops with about
> fifty participants each where the attendance ratio was aproximately 60%
> women - ordinary illiterate women mostly.
>  I was made to understand that the intensity of this sensitisation campaign
> is now dwindling partly because funding from the WHO seems to be drying up;
> It was also suggsted to me that a lot of the money for the project
> disappears into corrupt pockets - of course not at all unthinkable in
> today's Gambia. But inspite of the media (especially GRTS) attempt to raise
> public awareness of HIV/AIDS - say by running dramatic public ads, I failed
> to notice a true sense of urgency amongst even the educated middle class.
> There is a deafening reluctance to speak openly about AIDS. Much more vigour
> needs to be injected into the public campaign in order to reverse the rate
> of infection.
>
>  Momodou
>
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: "Ceesay, Soffie" <[log in to unmask]>
>  To: <[log in to unmask]>
>  Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 8:02 PM
>  Subject: Re: FW: Something to really think about...
>
>
>  Welcome back and thank you for the information.  I certainly hope that
> they are doing something about this killer and stemming it's spread.  This
> government had an opportunity to get assistance from a group of African
> American doctors sometime back, and Mafy did meet with them.  His demand of
> "just give me the treatment protocol" and some other behavior so turned off
> this group that they took their services elsewhere, South Africa,
> specifically.  An associate of mine, who is a big part of this group, called
> me right afterwards with the details of the meeting.  Needless to say, I was
> sadly disappointed that Gambians would be missing out on this opportunity
> for assistance.  It is therefore heartening to hear that there is an effort
> at sensitization and education on this very serious matter.
>
>  Regards,
>  Soffie
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>  [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Momodou S Sidibeh
>  Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 1:31 PM
>  To: [log in to unmask]
>  Subject: Re: FW: Something to really think about...
>
>
>    Sister Soffie,
>
>    I returned from Gambia over a week ago after so many years of absence. I
>  had the opportunity to visit an Aids sensitisation workshop in Abuko and
>  felt initially that something was being done. It is difficult to say how
>  effective though, but there is no doubt in my mind that it has become a
>  silent killer even in Gambia.
>    All the same, many many thanks for reminding us all of what really
> matters
>  at this most critical era of our continent's history.
>
>    Cheers,
>
>    Momodou S Sidibeh
>
>
>    ----- Original Message -----
>    From: "Ceesay, Soffie" <[log in to unmask]>
>    To: <[log in to unmask]>
>    Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 5:10 PM
>    Subject: FW: Something to really think about...
>
>
>    FYI
>
>    Soffie
>
>    >  -----Original Message-----
>    > From:         Tekeste, Robel
>    > Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 10:45 AM
>    > To:   Ceesay, Soffie; Afework, Elias
>    > Subject:      Something to really think about...
>    >
>    > www.cryafrica.org
>
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