Dear Editor,
I am indeed heartened to see the sustained and tenacious battle against the seemingly incurable HIV/AIDS. As a matter of fact, it will be unforgivably inconsiderate if I did not acknowledge the fact that as a nation, we have become much more pugilistic in our efforts to bolster this already indefatigable battle.
Hence, on December 23, 2007, it was observed that the print media contained a considerable number of sensitization articles, which divulged shocking realities that ought to serve as reminders that we can no longer bury our faces in the sand to the reality that HIV/AIDS is ubiquitous and its ravages devastating. The time has also come for some of us to abandon the perception and stop living in denial that the spread of HIV is only confined to people of certain ethnicity, sexual orientation, social class, religion, etc.
Nevertheless, I must extol the agencies and line ministries, which have genuinely embraced the introduction of workplace programmes, and have been working assiduously and unreservedly towards creating a favourable impact. Initially, its introduction to some agencies was understandably greeted with some degree of skepticism, but eventually found itself comfortably interwoven within the fabric. Meanwhile, in others where it has been in existence for the same duration, it has failed to realize its value and purpose.
On the obverse side of the coin, a vast majority of us may be oblivious that Mr Keith Burrowes’ ascendancy to Executive Director within the Health Sector Development Unit, has certainly injected a renewed sense of enthusiasm in the fight.
Though not my intention to enumerate his achievements, he must be credited for including the media houses among other agencies. And already the media houses have started to leave their footprints in the sand of this fight. I want to commend Mr Burrowes for the level of enthusiasm he has been demonstrating so far. Conversely, the idea of inserting awareness messages on telephone bills and ATM machines as was discussed should not elude your radar. Felicitations to you.
Yours faithfully,
Raul Khan
