going without food and adequate clothing. Too sad.
If you are unlucky, the goal posts will shift when you
are almost there, without an explanation from the authorities. To even
qualify for vouchers is never easy at all. If this weren't the case, people
would have been able to manage good diets and lead less stressful lives.
Their quality of life would improve and maybe even their lives would be
saved.
Two people I know have had to take legal action against their local authorities
to provide housing and welfare they clearly qualify for. They're the brave
ones. Many others are too scared to come forward. Yet our lot will not
improve unless we do. It's time to stand up and be counted.
Inequality is not entirely the fault of the system. It's also due to our
non-participation in issues concerning us Africans. In this light I have
to mention the African HIV Policy Network (AHPN).
page 2 of 2
contents
of issue 82
back
issues
the
gazette
recipes
small
ads
contacting
us
weblinks
They are doing wonderful work despite limited resources.
But I would urge them to lobby still more strongly to expose service inequalities.
The AHPN should take a stronger lead in advocating, campaigning aggressively
and improving the professionalism and capacity of African organisations.
This will lead to inequalities being exposed and being properly addressed
by the authorities.
The AHPN can achieve this by fully opening up and integrating HIV positive
people in all its activities, particularly the Board of Trustees. And
in their turn HIV positive people need to demand a pivotal role in the
running of the AHPN for it to lobby strongly on behalf of the suffering
African masses.
We will not save our lives by staying at the rear. We Africans need to
advance boldly to the front line
and Walk for our Lives.
