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Conference held for AIDS awareness

Dec. 2, 2009

Associated Press People light candles in the shape of a red ribbon, the symbol of AIDS awareness campaign, during a rally Tuesday to mark World AIDS Day in Jakarta, Indonesia.

By Adeola Aro
Staff Writer

Phi Alpha Theta, a history honor society and the department of history engaged students in a videoconference Tuesday in observance of the global World AIDS Day.

The videoconference featured two workers from the Bureau of African Affairs of the State Department in Washington, D.C.

Lynn Allison, desk officer for Southern Africa, and Molly Sanchez-Crowe, desk officer for Western Africa, spoke of the work the United States is doing around the world to educate and support people infected with the preventable and treatable disease.

Dr. Hakeem Tijani, associate professor of history, teaches a course in West African history and organized the event in order to reinforce classroom topics covered in his syllabus with real-life encounters. Topics such as heath and illness were discussed in Tuesday's videoconference.

"I looked at what tools I can use to take teaching beyond the four walls of the classroom," Tijani said. "I researched my environment and I noticed the African Bureau was a very good tool for professors and teachers that are willing to give students an out-of-class experience."

Allison and Sanchez-Crowe were both stationed in African countries where they educated the general population and government on the pandemic along with prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS and other preventable and treatable diseases.

HIV/AIDS affects more than 33 million people worldwide. World AIDS Day is observed Dec. 1 each year and is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of the HIV infection.

Started in 1988 as a way to promote education of HIV/AIDS, World AIDS Day has grown into a global effort to prevent the spread and eradicate one of the world's most destructive epidemics in recorded history.

Sanchez-Crowe, who was stationed in Guinea as recently as October, had to be evacuated because of recent conflict. During a protest in late September, protesters were gunned down by soldiers, sending the country into momentary panic.

Sanchez-Crowe also mentioned some of the corruption combated in the country. One way Guinea trys to get rid of corruption is through requirements that make pharmacists publish the price of medications to prevent overcharging.

"Small steps that show that something is transparent ... is very empowering for the people," Sanchez-Crowe said.

HIV/AIDS is not the only health concern the organization is addressing, Sanchez-Crowe said. Infant mortality and malaria are also concerns. Sanchez-Crowe said malaria is as "common as the flu."

Allison explained the U.S. State Department's role in the world in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The United States developed and funded the President Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, which was launched in 2003 by former President George W. Bush. PEPFAR invested funding for prevention practices, care and education in nations across the globe.

During the Q&A session of the videoconference, one student asked what good governance was. The panel agreed that accountability and transparency were the two major components of it, as well as making sure resources go toward the needs of the country.

They also discussed the challenges faced when trying to dispel common misconceptions held by some Africans such as the myth of the 'Virgin Blood,' where a man will be cured of the disease if he has intercourse with a virgin, which has led to the rape of hundreds of teenagers, children and sometimes infant girls said the panel.

Sanchez-Crowe said the department sometimes tries to reach the people through communication with tribal leaders in the community. "People are desperate. This is the level of desperation to getting rid of this disease," said the facilitator Nicole Peacock, outreach coordinator for the U.S. State Department.

Cypress junior Saralyn Salisbury interned with the USDS over the summer and said it was important for her as a student to connect the academic portion of her education with real-life applications to provide for better understanding.

"I really think there is a lack of awareness about our government and our policy towards the rest of the world," Salisbury said.

"A lot can be learned on policy and our world, through videoconferencing." Nonprofit organizations such as the ONE Campaign and The Global Fund provide information on how to support and fight preventable diseases worldwide.

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