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Magazine
HIV/AIDS: It's our business ....
THE HINDU PHOTO LIBRARY
ACROSS the world, the march of this pandemic continues relentlessly. Everyday there are 14,000 new infections, or someone becomes infected every six seconds. And, as we enter the third decade of this epidemic, the evidence of its impact is undeniable — "robbing countries of resources and capacities on which human security and development depend".
Today, fighting AIDS is more an issue of social responsibility; increasingly in the mode of partnerships. It is about the issue of rights, reducing vulnerability, stigma and creating choices and also about advocacy in an age of cynicism.
In a step in this direction, and perhaps for the first time in this part of the world, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) conducted a regional arts and media programme, or "Generating hope, transformation and results for transforming the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic".
A four-day residential workshop at Goa, from May 9 to 12, was aimed at facilitating a shift in thinking, commitment and generating images, metaphors and icons: to create a new leadership or a "media art" leadership in social change and transformation.
A pattern that overwhelms many societies trying to halt and reverse the epidemic is one of scepticism and the aim of this exercise at Goa was to challenge this.
But at another level too it was about overcoming a different sort of challenge.
For one thing, there was the issue of language and comprehension, which some of the participants from Nepal had to face. Then, there was the "unpacking of baggage" on gender issues that often generated furious debate during discussions and critical analyses. And, finally, there was the unforgettable anger of one of the two HIV infected persons invited to speak when he perceived a tone of insensitiveness in a question; a signal that many of us have still to change our attitudes.
The brainstorming, with its lighter moments too, threw up results be it in the short film campaigns or in the posters and skits and songs that were screened, put up, enacted and sung ... the creations of the spectrum of participants — a majority relatively unknown and some in the limelight such as Achuthan Kudaloor, Imtiaz Dharker, Nandita Das, Prahlad Khakkar, Sai Paranjpye and E.P. Unny.
More importantly, it was about inspired individuals being the catalysts of effecting new possibilities.
To Dr. Monica Sharma, resource person, and Group leader, UNDP, HIV/AIDS Group, New York, the results spoke for themselves because "it is in art that our values reside" — the key to creating the kind of leadership best suited to respond to the infection. For it is such people who should challenge discrimination, facilitate public action and enable access to care and treatment.
Excerpts from an exclusive interview:
UNDP
Dr. Monica Sharma ... looking at perspectives.
The idea of leadership in a health issue is a new concept. A new paradigm to development, its application in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention is relatively new. Your comments?
TECHNOLOGY alone doesn't help. I joined the UNDP two years ago and having read about the concept in the corporate sector, we realised that in this field too, it fitted the mandate.
And the idea of reaching out to professionals?
The practitioners of art and media represent reality and it is about engaging them in new roles by combating scepticism to harness productivity. For instance, the onus on a journalist is in creating a story with clarity and skilfully positioning the language.
A leadership development programme such as this invites top class professionals from the media, government, planning, education, health and agriculture, the private sector and civil society to work together with a facilitator in a practical way. It is about identifying initiatives.
During the course of the four days, you touched upon the concept of a "healing physician". Its application in the Indian context?
Physicians are trained to be technically skilled. But it can be extended further to the physician being a healer.
The difference between a physician and a healing physician is about generating options for patients, especially those with AIDS. It is about whether you can get into this space and create something different. It can also be translated into the arts to create deep empowerment.
I began 15 years ago as a medical professional and later realised how difficult it was to become a top class professional who could make a difference. It must also be about an acceptance and then a forgiveness of self.
There have been many innovative campaigns across the Third World on HIV prevention. Could you share them with us?
We have had tremendous success in Ukraine, where we involved the government, policy makers, NGOs and the arts and media. Here we also roped in music VJs because music is influential and attracts people. There were even clubs opened for those in the terminal stages of HIV.
In Ethiopia, it was about voluntary testing for HIV and counselling and then extending education to the youth.
In South Africa, it was a leadership programme meant for people of influence where it was left to the country to decide the course of action.
In Cambodia, it was again about leadership development and addressing denial.
In India, which has good technology, good NGOs and a committed government, it is all about a programme that has potential.
The HIV vaccine trials are a major area of interest especially in dealing with the problems of sub-strains of the infection. Yet, it is where hope lies ... .
I believe in this. Whenever there is technology, use it. But there is also a need to look at the underlying causes. Beneath all this is essentially the point of responsible behaviour.
About the vaccine trials in Africa and India, there are several that are strain-specific. But the hope is that there will be a vaccine in maybe five to 10 years.
It is also not really a North-South issue too but about a vaccine for humanity.
... and the results of this workshop?
I am satisfied with the outcome of the workshop. It was about you coming here and leaving after forming networks. In this, the concept of the group of print media journalists forming "The power of one" with its objectives was wonderful.
It was just like the spontaneous anti-war campaign before Iraq. It was also echoed in a statement made in the hall — "I am disturbed, I need to think", or even like the idea of the group that created the mirror behind the board concept, in one of the exercises. When you stood in front of it, it showed you ... to be a leader.
Out of this workshop came over 200 commitments. It was such good energy. No speeches but connecting with our emotions and offering multiple perspectives.
It was a platform for people to access wisdom and strength and show the way.
MURALI N. KRISHNASWAMY
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