[afro-nets] No ARV roll-out is better than a bad ARV roll-out (9)

[Aruna J Hewapathirane <arunajh@sol.lk>]

No ARV roll-out is better than a bad ARV roll-out (9)
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Greetings from Colombo, Sri Lanka.

This is just an observation that I felt 'had' to be made so here
goes zilch!

Has it ever occurred to any of you academics and civilized folks
out there that it becomes extremely difficult for one to remain
civilized in vernacular or actual behavior when one is con-
stantly faced with 'unnecessary' deaths where ever one looks. I
am one who can actually feel J Mark Adams' frustrations and pain
as I have also been trying now with very little success to get
ARV access made available to all who need it here in Sri Lanka.

I am a lucky one in that the powers that be decided to give 'me'
access (maybe for reasons better known to themselves...) but I am
now rather fed-up with again constantly having to watch so
called civilized and well informed homo-sapiens carry out dia-
logues and discussions (rather heated and at times maybe
strongly worded - I would probably NOT have been as polite as J
Mark Adams and would have said it the way I see it which is that
the BS artists are still tokenizing and 'using' us positives for
their own selfish needs, when will they do the right thing man?)

It is very easy to talk and discuss any topic when one is physi-
cally fit and healthy but when one is extremely weak, has a CD4
of around 9 and NIL access to ART's then it is frustrating to
see people of your caliber and capacity 'still' continue to do
nothing concrete about the whole issue. Why the hell are you
still just talking while more and more of us are dying?

Here in Sri Lanka they are not dying at the rate of 600 a day
but they ARE still very much dying. So like I said before it be-
comes rather difficult to stay civilized and converse in the ex-
pected 'polite' manner which actually has never obtained the de-
sired results anywhere. And in this particular case I would say
'we' are with you all the way my brother to J Mark Adams and an-
other thing that civilized and well informed people should real-
ize is that respect is something that one has to earn and civil-
ity and diplomacy are two things that usually succeed only in
hindering 'real' progress. I suppose if any of you out there was
to hold a loved one in 'your' arms and he/she was to breathe his
last in your arms, then I suppose you would still continue to be
civil, polite and diplomatic right? I have seen people wasting
away and dying and I am now fed-with it all.

I am really sorry Wendy, but maybe it is time for us to stop
with the talking and get down to business, which is to get ac-
cess to more and more who are very much in need of it. As you
well know 'I' am living proof that the med's damn well work, so
what the f!@# makes 'me' special huh? What about the poor kids
who are wasting away with each passing day and lift up their
arms every time one walks in so they can be carried and feel
loved? They are in real bad need of serious help and you lot are
talking and fighting and bitching - when will you grow up peo-
ple?!

If I had the money I suppose I would have provided ARV's for the
others here but I just do not have that kind of cash. So I am
asking you all very respectfully and politely to do the right
thing by us who can be useful citizens just like you. It is NOT
fair to give one person access just because maybe he/she has
leadership qualities or abilities and skills that can be useful
in 'civilized' society as we know it. If you ask 'me' that is
the most ignorant and primitive reasoning - to actually judge a
person by what he/she is rather than give them back their lives.

Well..., so much for civilization and education. If I have
bruised any egos out there or have used language you may find
distasteful, too frigging bad amigos!

Yours very 'sincerely' -
Aruna J. Hewapathirane
Country Rep APN+
Sri Lanka - Ex. Gen Secretary Lanka Plus
HEAL Project - Sri Lanka
mailto:arunajh@sol.lk