| june - july 2007 Issue 12 |
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EVENT
An Evening with Stephen Lewis
by Karina Ramdath
HIV/AIDS is a pandemic with approximately 8000 people dying every day from this disease. In 2006, 39.5 million
people were living with HIV, a virus that strips away the body’s immunity, and 2.9 million died from AIDS. Unbelievably,
there were 4.3 million new infections last year. It is a disease that decimates the body, yes, but also whole societies as
the vacuum caused by deaths wreaks havoc on social and family structures. Importantly, more than two-thirds of the
people who die from AIDS live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
An Evening with Stephen Lewis
by Karina Ramdath
HIV/AIDS is a pandemic with approximately 8000 people dying every day from this disease. In 2006, 39.5 million
people were living with HIV, a virus that strips away the body’s immunity, and 2.9 million died from AIDS. Unbelievably,
there were 4.3 million new infections last year. It is a disease that decimates the body, yes, but also whole societies as
the vacuum caused by deaths wreaks havoc on social and family structures. Importantly, more than two-thirds of the
people who die from AIDS live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
On May 24th, 2007, Knox United Church hosted “An Evening With Stephen Lewis” in an effort to raise awareness
about HIV/AIDS in Africa, and to raise money that would benefit the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The evening began
with David Thiaw (pronounced Chow) and guests beating rhythms on their drums, which was a moving tribute to
Africa. Thiaw then involved the 875 audience members by beating the drums in different patterns and having the crowd
repeat the same sequence of beats by clapping their hands, creating a light-hearted, fun, and friendly atmosphere.
By the time humanitarian and former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa began to speak, each person in the
audience was ready to listen. Stephen Lewis identified himself as an “amiable gentleman” in his “dotage.” However,
his passionate, articulate, and moving turn of phrase regarding the horrible consequences wrought by HIV/AIDS in
Africa, and his descriptions of the work that’s being done, soon had the audience dismissing the fact that Mr. Lewis is
almost 70 years old, and focusing on how important and necessary it is to both halt HIV/AIDS and treat its effects, as
well as the ultimate goal of finding a cure.
Lewis shared how mournful he felt at learning that Canada plans to release a “Bush style war on drugs” by closing the
safe injection sites in the Vancouver East Side. Lewis clearly stated that he’s bewildered by this plan, considering that
sharing needles is the major cause of HIV infections in many parts of the world such as in Russia, Eastern Europe,
and India.
The challenge of subduing the outcomes of this pandemic becomes even more difficult when governments go
backwards with their policies. Fortunately, Lewis described a glimmer of hope in that two million infected persons are
in treatment, receiving anti-viral drugs, versus the few hundred thousand three to four years ago. Expressing
admiration for the Clinton Foundation, Lewis told his avid listeners that Bill Clinton went to India to negotiate with
generic drug companies about the cost of HIV treatment. Now instead of $10 000 to $12 000 to treat one patient over
one year, it only costs $139 to treat one person in one year.
That’s good news, however, a vaccine is still at least ten years away because the virus is extremely complex. Lewis
shared that tests have revealed that male circumcision has reduced the likelihood of infection to men by up to 60%.
Also, there is an intense scientific effort to create a vaginally applied microbicide within the next five years, which would
give women some sexual autonomy.
Lewis declared passionately that his is a feminist family and that anyone in his family not a feminist would be
disinherited. A joking segway after which Lewis began talking about the women in Africa, about the gender inequality
of this disease. 78% of those infected with HIV/AIDS are women and girls, and 90% of all new infections in 2005 and
2006 were young women and girls. In any war, rape is sadly one of the most brutal weapons that can be used. In
Africa now there is the added horror that rape is being used as a weapon specifically intended to to transmit HIV/AIDS
to the victims of what is already a horrible crime. Lewis shared stories of Rwandan women he met who were gang
raped, or who were tied to a bed for months to be raped repeatedly. Imploringly, Lewis remarked, “if we don’t empower
women and change men’s sexual behaviour, then the pandemic will go on forever.”
Children are also on Lewis’s agenda. He wonders how it is that children occupy the political and economic bottom
rung, stating that 14 to 15 million children will be orphaned by the end of this year because of HIV/AIDS, and over 18
million by 2010. And then who takes care of them, ambiguous foster relationships in small villages that may fall apart
because there is no support and no money. Lewis spoke fervently about 60 to 80 year-old grandmothers in Africa who
are taking care of their many grandchildren. Children who had cared for their own mothers, and then watched and
wept as they died.
Lewis explained that each individual who dies is a resource – teacher, doctor, pharmacist, or farmer. Lewis added
that our political leaders aren’t keeping their promises to prevent, treat, and eradicate HIV/AIDS. In the absence of
political leadership, Lewis says that the public must act. Lewis spoke of the $23 million generously provided by
Canadians to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which has supported more than 140 projects in 14 African countries. He
also spoke about the 150 grandmother groups in Canada who whole-heartedly support African grandmothers as well
as other grassroots projects that have had successes.
The Stephen Lewis Foundation is dedicated to ending the pandemic in Africa. It funds programs that provide medical
and hygiene supplies as well as home care, food and invaluable support for women living with HIV/AIDS, as well as
programs and schooling that support children orphaned by this disease. The Stephen Lewis Foundation also
provides food, school fees, and school uniforms and provides the means to empower grandmothers who take care of
their orphaned grandchildren. The foundation also eases the pain of people living with HIV/AIDS who are trying to
educate themselves and others and to stop the ignominy of the disease.
Lewis commented that Africa has been under siege for a long time – first with slavery and colonialism, the
whipsawing of the Cold War, and then structural adjustment programs, and now with HIV/AIDS. Lewis implored us to
be responsible, saying that when one part of the human family is under siege then the privileged part is responsible
for taking care of them.
Undeniably, Lewis is very passionate about the HIV/AIDS issue. When he said, “AIDS consumes me,” there was
intense emotion in his voice and in his words. The event was not only successful in educating numerous attendees
about the people affected by this disease, but it also raised $35 000. All proceeds went directly to the Stephen Lewis
Foundation, which receives 50 to 60 program-funding proposals from grassroots organisations every week.
Related Links:
http://www.unaids.org/
http://www.aidscalgary.org/
http://globalhealth.org/view_top.php3?id=227
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dc-ma/aids-sida/index_e.html
http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/
Karina Ramdath is Senior Editor and a regular contributor to Eleventh Transmission.
about HIV/AIDS in Africa, and to raise money that would benefit the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The evening began
with David Thiaw (pronounced Chow) and guests beating rhythms on their drums, which was a moving tribute to
Africa. Thiaw then involved the 875 audience members by beating the drums in different patterns and having the crowd
repeat the same sequence of beats by clapping their hands, creating a light-hearted, fun, and friendly atmosphere.
By the time humanitarian and former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa began to speak, each person in the
audience was ready to listen. Stephen Lewis identified himself as an “amiable gentleman” in his “dotage.” However,
his passionate, articulate, and moving turn of phrase regarding the horrible consequences wrought by HIV/AIDS in
Africa, and his descriptions of the work that’s being done, soon had the audience dismissing the fact that Mr. Lewis is
almost 70 years old, and focusing on how important and necessary it is to both halt HIV/AIDS and treat its effects, as
well as the ultimate goal of finding a cure.
Lewis shared how mournful he felt at learning that Canada plans to release a “Bush style war on drugs” by closing the
safe injection sites in the Vancouver East Side. Lewis clearly stated that he’s bewildered by this plan, considering that
sharing needles is the major cause of HIV infections in many parts of the world such as in Russia, Eastern Europe,
and India.
The challenge of subduing the outcomes of this pandemic becomes even more difficult when governments go
backwards with their policies. Fortunately, Lewis described a glimmer of hope in that two million infected persons are
in treatment, receiving anti-viral drugs, versus the few hundred thousand three to four years ago. Expressing
admiration for the Clinton Foundation, Lewis told his avid listeners that Bill Clinton went to India to negotiate with
generic drug companies about the cost of HIV treatment. Now instead of $10 000 to $12 000 to treat one patient over
one year, it only costs $139 to treat one person in one year.
That’s good news, however, a vaccine is still at least ten years away because the virus is extremely complex. Lewis
shared that tests have revealed that male circumcision has reduced the likelihood of infection to men by up to 60%.
Also, there is an intense scientific effort to create a vaginally applied microbicide within the next five years, which would
give women some sexual autonomy.
Lewis declared passionately that his is a feminist family and that anyone in his family not a feminist would be
disinherited. A joking segway after which Lewis began talking about the women in Africa, about the gender inequality
of this disease. 78% of those infected with HIV/AIDS are women and girls, and 90% of all new infections in 2005 and
2006 were young women and girls. In any war, rape is sadly one of the most brutal weapons that can be used. In
Africa now there is the added horror that rape is being used as a weapon specifically intended to to transmit HIV/AIDS
to the victims of what is already a horrible crime. Lewis shared stories of Rwandan women he met who were gang
raped, or who were tied to a bed for months to be raped repeatedly. Imploringly, Lewis remarked, “if we don’t empower
women and change men’s sexual behaviour, then the pandemic will go on forever.”
Children are also on Lewis’s agenda. He wonders how it is that children occupy the political and economic bottom
rung, stating that 14 to 15 million children will be orphaned by the end of this year because of HIV/AIDS, and over 18
million by 2010. And then who takes care of them, ambiguous foster relationships in small villages that may fall apart
because there is no support and no money. Lewis spoke fervently about 60 to 80 year-old grandmothers in Africa who
are taking care of their many grandchildren. Children who had cared for their own mothers, and then watched and
wept as they died.
Lewis explained that each individual who dies is a resource – teacher, doctor, pharmacist, or farmer. Lewis added
that our political leaders aren’t keeping their promises to prevent, treat, and eradicate HIV/AIDS. In the absence of
political leadership, Lewis says that the public must act. Lewis spoke of the $23 million generously provided by
Canadians to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which has supported more than 140 projects in 14 African countries. He
also spoke about the 150 grandmother groups in Canada who whole-heartedly support African grandmothers as well
as other grassroots projects that have had successes.
The Stephen Lewis Foundation is dedicated to ending the pandemic in Africa. It funds programs that provide medical
and hygiene supplies as well as home care, food and invaluable support for women living with HIV/AIDS, as well as
programs and schooling that support children orphaned by this disease. The Stephen Lewis Foundation also
provides food, school fees, and school uniforms and provides the means to empower grandmothers who take care of
their orphaned grandchildren. The foundation also eases the pain of people living with HIV/AIDS who are trying to
educate themselves and others and to stop the ignominy of the disease.
Lewis commented that Africa has been under siege for a long time – first with slavery and colonialism, the
whipsawing of the Cold War, and then structural adjustment programs, and now with HIV/AIDS. Lewis implored us to
be responsible, saying that when one part of the human family is under siege then the privileged part is responsible
for taking care of them.
Undeniably, Lewis is very passionate about the HIV/AIDS issue. When he said, “AIDS consumes me,” there was
intense emotion in his voice and in his words. The event was not only successful in educating numerous attendees
about the people affected by this disease, but it also raised $35 000. All proceeds went directly to the Stephen Lewis
Foundation, which receives 50 to 60 program-funding proposals from grassroots organisations every week.
Related Links:
http://www.unaids.org/
http://www.aidscalgary.org/
http://globalhealth.org/view_top.php3?id=227
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dc-ma/aids-sida/index_e.html
http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/
Karina Ramdath is Senior Editor and a regular contributor to Eleventh Transmission.