[afro-nets] No ARV roll-out is better than a bad ARV roll-out (14)

[J Mark Adams <j.mark.adams@iafrica.com>]

No ARV roll-out is better than a bad ARV roll-out (14)
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On 16 April 2004 12:39 Aruna J Hewapathirane wrote:

 > Hi Wendy,
 >
 > Absolutely no worries my dear as I know just how busy you are
 > running around all over the place helping people. Great to hear
 > you are helping out in Indonesia. And I was not making any 'per-
 > sonal' comments my friend, just an observation like I said.

Of course they were just observations. But those observations
have evidently touched a nerve or two.


 > You want to know what IS really sad and tragic over here? ARV's
 > 'are' very much available at a certain local pharmacy but at the
 > going cost of US$ 42.00 for a months supply of Duovir-N ( Single
 > tablet containing three drugs - Lamivudine, Zidovudine and Nevi-
 > rapine the 'cocktail' as it is usually called...) very, very few
 > are able to afford them.

But the question is whether the country can afford the US$ based
salaries and per diems of the experts who are willing to come
and solve all the country's problems for them? They don't just
want to organise a roll-out of ARV's but (in the grand tradition
of mission creep) they will want to redesign the whole health-
care system as well. You don't want to even try to do the math,
it is frightening. Then when the money is in the bank they will
be off, but prepared to return for a Phase 2 (if there is any
money left) you understand.


 > The med's ARE available but people are dying. Now can you see
 > why some of us resorting to yelling and demanding instead of
 > making diplomatic requests anymore?

Yes, but you must see it from their point of view. This whole
thing has to be done properly, you know. If a few million people
die in the meantime that seems to be just too bad. And... just
don't you dare raise your voice. Some people have very sensitive
dispositions. Keep the whole ugly matter out of sight and
thereby out of mind that's what they say.


 > Stay well my friend and good luck with the project in Indonesia.
 > I will be leaving for the jungles of Zambia that I grew up in
 > and know as home in the evening tomorrow, so at last I will be
 > in an enabling environment as compared to the rather non-
 > enabling one here. Wish me luck, I may be able to do what I
 > failed to here, there....!!

Isn't it just so very, very sad that you have to rely on *luck*
when there is the ability and the resources available to address
the plight of millions. But it's an industry now, you know.
Thousands of jobs, thousands of jobs to be protected, can't let
a few "rabble rousers" go and break the golden egg so many are
earning a living from now can we?


 > Peace & the loving kindness to you all,
 >
 > Aruna J Hewapathirane

Ahh... the milk of human kindness. A rare commodity to be sure.

--
J Mark Adams
mailto:j.mark.adams@iafrica.com