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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