August 15, 2006

Sarah Adams, MCC AIDS Coordinator

As with most conferences, this conference, too, has its own logo. Quite an interesting one, I think. I haven't actually read about or asked for any formal interpretation; sometimes I prefer to interpret things in my own way. Not always the safest way to go, but often a more interesting and personal one.

When I look at this particular logo (see photo at left), I see the keys that we each need to personally make a difference in the struggle against AIDS. I’m not sure whether the swirls at the top are eyes or ears or something else entirely, but I'm going to think of them as both eyes and ears. We need to see and listen to what's going on around us. We need to take the time to see what’s happening in the world. We need to spend time listening to the stories of those living with HIV/AIDS. Then comes the heart. After we see and hear what’s happening, we need to respond with compassion. We need to take the issue to heart. We need to care about a world with AIDS and offer love to those living with the disease. Finally, there are the hands. (One finger seems to be missing, but I’m trying not to let that distract me.) We need to get out and do something. We need to be active in our response.

The theme for this week’s conference is "Time to Deliver". Last week, we were encouraged to "Keep the Promise". This week, the command is to do something now. The time to deliver on our promises is now. This morning, Stephen Lewis put it very simply, "Every minute lost in the struggle against the virus is a life lost." Literally. Actually, it's worse than that. Every minute lost means 5 people have died and 9 more have become infected. Every minute counts. AIDS is an on-going emergency. It's not an earthquake or a tsunami where we see images of massive death and destruction on a rapid scale. No, AIDS is a much different kind of tragedy. The worst kind of tragedy. A chronic tragedy that is often forgotten. Although nearly 8,500 hundred people died of AIDS today, that won't make headlines. Why? Because 8,500 hundred people died yesterday. 8,500 hundred people died last Wednesday. 8,500 hundred people will die tomorrow, and 8,500 will die next Monday.

Bill Clinton spoke to us this afternoon. Clinton is a tireless champion in the fight against AIDS. He has single-handedly done what many governments and global agencies have not been able to do. One of his major contributions has been getting drug companies to produce life-prolonging medications for adults and children at a low cost. He said something today that I found very encouraging. "There is one person in this conference for every 1,500 HIV positive people in the world." That’s not so intimidating actually. If every person at the conference – together with their sponsoring agencies or constituents – could commit to supporting 1,500 people, every person with AIDS would be getting support and care. Wow! That almost seems achievable. Of course, I’m not so naïve to think it’s that simple. But there's no harm is making our goals seem achievable. If we can all walk away with the message that our individual contributions are important, and that collectively those individual contributions are enough to address this pandemic – then that’s something worth celebrating. As Clinton closed his address today, he reminded us that addressing AIDS was our obligation as a caring community. Yet he also seemed to be celebrating. "How fortunate we are that we live in a time when we have the opportunity to meet our obligation."