At present, there are approximately 40million PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS) in the world. Approximately 5 million people are newly infected and 3.5 million pass away each year. 95% of PLWHA are people in developing countries and 99% of death from AIDS occurs in developing countries. Especially, Sub-Saharan Africa is affected most by HIV/AIDS. The region has less than 10% of the world's population, yet is home to approximately 70% of PLWHA. Most of whom don't know they carry the virus, while those not yet infected know nothing or too little about HIV/AIDS to protect themselves.
We lack the perception that "anyone can get HIV/AIDS." Many of PLWHA are infected by not only promiscuity but also sex between couples. For prevention the condom must be used every time, except for reproduction. We must realize that the use of a condom is one of the best means to protect ourselves and our partner we love.
Moreover, VCT* (voluntary counseling and testing) plays a very important role of accessing the services concerning HIV/AIDS for individuals without regard to whether they are positive or negative. Positive people find various services and activities which is care support, treatment, PLWHA's group activity and so on through VCT. Negative people find the correct information, prevention methods and activities regarding behavior change too.
I have had a lot of opportunities to discuss about HIV/AIDS with young people in Malawi. To my great surprise, almost nobody goes to VCT even if they have a steady partner. I asked why? The usual answer is, "I don't want to get married yet." "I haven't considered getting married." That is to say, they have formed the consensus of "VCT=Marriage." This is a very dangerous trend. The current situation that in this highly infected country many young people have had sex with multiple partners is causing them to risk transmitting HIV to their partner and also their partner transmitting to them without either person knowing. We must create the new trend that "I go to VCT, because I love you." I'd like to create the new culture that young people can say, "Why don't we go to VCT together because I don't want to harm you?" "Why don't we go for VCT together if you love me?" I mean to say, going to VCT becomes a "LOVE" barometer. We must throw away this reckless consensus and create a new sense of value. I hope my songs will be the trigger that changes people's behavior, especially young people, who carry the future of the nation on their shoulders, and contribute to stopping HIV/AIDS.
Don't be afraid. Be brave. Fight HIV/AIDS and save yourself and the people you love.
Kohei Yamada
*VCT is the process of the set of voluntary HIV/AIDS test and pre and post counseling
20 авг 2024
