African Wind
Chapter13
2007 INTERNATIONAL AIDS DAY
DECEMBER 01…INTERNATIONAL AIDS DAY
This year, as an activity for International AIDS Day, African JAG Project which I’m affiliated with, will be presenting a photo exhibition from December 01-03, featuring photos of the children we met through our support activities in Africa, with cooperation from Unice Cafe in the heart of Tokyo.
Children that help each other and live to their fullest no matter how horrible a situation and environment they are placed in. We would like to introduce and deliver their smiles to you through this exhibition.
Also featured in the merchandise area of Unice Cafe will be the African JAG compilation CD & the DVD released just recently as collaboration between Japan’s top skaters and African JAG, as well as various interesting African arts & crafts such as silver accessories by Saharan nomads “Touareg,” colorful fabrics from West Africa, little statues by Senoufo tribe, post cards featuring artworks by Osogbo artists in Nigeria, and more. Most of the crafts are hand made thus one & only, and all will be purchasable at the cafe during the exhibition period. Please feel the crafts with your own hands and enjoy the sensible, high-quality creations by African people.
* Part of the sales of above arts & crafts will be donated to African JAG to be used for local support activities in Africa.Hope you would be able to enjoy spending your tea time at the Cafe, feel the everyday lives of African people more closely, and hopefully to pay even a little attention to the realities that exist behind children’s smiles…If you have a time to spare, please visit us at Unice Cafe during the exhibition period.* Please note Unice Cafe will open as usual throughout the exhibition period, providing their regular menu of foods & drinks. Place: Unice Cafe (Daikanyama, Tokyo; B1F of live venue UNIT)Period: December 01 to 03 (exhibition open hours differ each day. Please see schedule below.)
December 01= 21:00 - 5:00 (all night)December 02= 11:30 - 16:30／21:30 - 2:00 (all night)
December 03= 11:30 - 5:00 (all night)
（The photograph exhibition was already finished
HIV/AIDS & JAPAN NOW
December 01 is International AIDS Day.
WHO have set this date as “International AIDS Day” in purpose of a worldwide campaign to avoid & to fight against AIDS, and to spread correct facts and understandings of the disease.
Countless campaign events, conventions and features have been done in various WHO membership countries in the past years, and achieved great results.
Although there is a country within the so-called “advanced countries” that the number of AIDS patients is still increasing…that’s right, Japan.
Infection between homosexuals, “condomless” sex with multiple partners amongst young generations,… According to the report by Ministry of Health, Welfare & Labor, in 2006, 3.7 people were infected by HIV per day in Japan. Although considering the low rate of people taking the HIV blood test, the reported number is not something reliable, the actual number of HIV positives in Japan is said to be 10 time that number….The true state of AIDS continues to be unrevealed.
The thinkable reasons are the prejudice & discrimination based on wrong acknowledgement of the disease. And the image of AIDS=death.
THOUGHTS AFTER SUPPORTING AIDS PATIENTS IN AFRICA
Prior to my first visit to Africa for AIDS research, what I heard was how horrible the discriminations toward HIV positives & their families are.
Although when I actually got there, there are too many HIV/AIDS patients, people seem to be helping each other rather than bullying the diseased. Villagers are helping children who lost their parents by AIDS & children themselves have been infected through their mothers. Just like all the other kids in the village, they laugh together, cry together, and get scolded when they get caught being naughty.
Upon one of my visits to Malawi, a boy called Alle who became HIV positive through his mother had a scar which turned into a worst state due to immunodeficiency from HIV to the point he was in a danger of losing his life. All the people from his village was concerned about him, and came up to me asking to help Alle so that he could go to the hospital and get proper medication.
When I met Alle after his scar got cured, people called out to celebrate him saying “congratulations, Alle!!” from everywhere in the village. Alle knodded with his face filled with true joy.
Everyone’s in poverty. 1 out of 3 is infected by HIV/AIDS. …The only thing they could do is to help each other.
But there’s something more than that. Sounds callow, but it’s probably the Love they have amongst each other….
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO FACE HIV/AIDS?
Now what if such situation occurs in Japan? If you have been diagnosed as HIV positive, would you be able to tell the others of such fact? If so, to how many people?
As for me, I have an extraordinary past I have lived so there’s nothing I should hide, I’m also a person who regards the way I live = my way of expression, I don’t think I’m relevant to answer this question representing the public, but what would most people do if they are placed in such situation?
How many “friends” do people have? Not “some one you know” but “friends.”
Could be anyone from elders, school mates, people you work with…how many of them are those that you could really trust, that you could show your crying face…?Human relationships are corrupting in Japan right now. …fading parents-child relationships, selfish love relationships, thin friendships,…is it only me that’s feeling such way?
Would anyone with such human relationships be able to tell others if he/she gets infected by HIV/AIDS?Being afraid of ignored by everyone, would he/she pretend nothing is wrong, try to smile to everyone and fight AIDS alone, when at bottom of his/her heart, he/she is craving for sympathy and to tell him/her that “everything will be alright”? …that’s too sad a situation.If human relationships are bettered, if there’s someone who could share, I think that more people would be able to face the disease of HIV/AIDS. Am I wrong?
HIV/AIDS TREATMENT MAKING STEADY ADVANCES
In addition to the above, people tend to consider AIDS as a special disease in a very bad way.”AIDS”= “DEATH.” This is an old belief. Right now, medical treatment for HIV/AIDS is rapidly progressing. It’s even been said that it won’t be a fatal disease any more in the near future.
It is true that currently there isn’t any specific medicine to cure AIDS. But even with current medicine prescribed to AIDS patients, if it’s taken properly, it could keep the HIV virus from multiplying for quite a long time. It keeps the HIV from turning into AIDS in a short period like it used to be. …Compared to other disease that are said to be incurable, it could be said that the medical studies for HIV are making progress in an epoch-making rate.
In fact, patients in poverty with progressing state of AIDS went to the hospital with support from African JAG, took proper medication, and have made amazing recoveries. Some who couldn’t even sit up were able to walk on their own, others even resumed back to work.That’s why it is now wrong to interpret “AIDS”=”DEATH.”
LET’S TAKE THE BLOOD TEST!!
7-10 years is said to be the average period that HIV turns into AIDS after infection. Although HIV virus are capable of infecting others even during such latent period, so people who had been in any situation of being infected by the virus should take the blood test immediately. If you aren’t aware of your infection, and if you gave the virus to someone you really love,…I know you would regret a lot.
Right now, you could easily purchase HIV test kit through online shops, so perhaps you could try that as a start. At local heath centers & specific examination institutes in Japan, you could take the blood test anonymously with no cost too.
CONDOMS
Last but not least, when you have sexual intercourse, you won’t have any danger of infection if both you & tour partner are HIV negative, but if that’s not the case or if you are unsure, I know it’s not comfortable, but don’t forget to use condoms!!
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