Libya's other humanitarian problem

 By Mohammad Shakir

Libya has been subject to a widespread humanitarian crisis during the recent months. There has been a bigger problem over the last couple of decades which has been swept under the carpet and the real issues ignored by the authorities – HIV/AIDS.

During the 1990’s authorities in Libya claimed that the country’s HIV was a result of foreign medical workers deliberately infecting Libyans with the virus. HIV is a particular problem in Benghazi where nearly 400 children were infected in the 90’s. At the latest count 62 of them have died.

The current humanitarian crisis has brought positives and negatives. It has made citizens more open and accepting of HIV, but has created a shortage of medical supplies due to conflict.

Despite the strong stigma in the religious society in the country, families are moving on and living with their lives. Facilities have become cleaner and better equipped to help people living with HIV lead a relatively normal life.

Let’s see what the future brings.

The Media's Perception of HIV

By Mohammad Shakir

There has been a major shift in the way the media perceive and report cases of HIV since its discovery in the 1980’s.

In the early 80’s HIV was met with fear due to the lack of information about the condition. Later in the decade celebrities such Freddie Mercury and Rock Hudson disclosed to the public that they were living with HIV. The creation of World AIDS Day brought a great swell in promotion about the realities of HIV/AIDS. Celebrities such as the late Dame Elizabeth Taylor setting up an AIDS foundation helped raise the profile.

The 90’s saw the US government and the United Nations put emphasis on finding a cure for HIV/AIDS and the first vaccine trials on humans take place. The past decade has seen a focus shift to Africa and Asia where HIV is most rife. More and more stories about how people are living with HIV have shown that with the right medication HIV can be kept under control and can help people live a relatively normal life.

The way both the media cover HIV related issues and the public receive them have changed from a perception fear and misunderstanding to one of where the world has begun to understand HIV and its effects. In essence HIV has become a global story with regular stories optimistic about finding a HIV vaccine or a reduction in the number of transmissions in the most affected areas.

(Research cited Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and the Australian Studies in Journalism)

The Plea of HIV by Hibo Noor

HIV is an ongoing pandemic upon every creed,

We are all one and the same colour blood we bleed,

Millions affected and for our help they plea,

But instead stigmatization is the only action we see

Islam teaches compassion upon one another,

So helping the people of humanity is upon us,

Raise awareness and promote fairness,

Equality is a right no matter faith or status

Speak up and don’t hide the fact,

AIDS is having an increasing impact,

On some Muslim and non-Muslim lives,

For their health and support we must give and strive

To help sufferers to attain a better quality of life,

Give mothers the chance to see their seeds blossom with light,

Help increase the chances of children’s playful living,

A chance of childhood is the best form of charitable giving

HIV is something we all know of,

But our voices are too silent to help the sufferers among us

Those affected across the globe lack basic prevention,

As a result the death toll rises within many nations

Discrimination and prejudice is practiced among the affected,

Because of these views the help for humanity is neglected,

The International HIV fund aims to help and create awareness,

Working together is essential, our capability is not effortless

Along with your help we can achieve,

And sufferers can overcome stigma within the lives they lead.

What will your New Year’s Resolution be?

As we end one year and enter a new one, we should one moment to reflect – to reflect on our responsibilities. We have responsibilities to our family and friends, and our colleagues at work or at school. We should also remember our responsibility to our fellow human beings who may not as better off as we are.

Many of us will be setting New Year’s resolutions to lose weight or try something new every day for the next year. With so much suffering in the world, surely one of the new things must be to help people who maybe suffering from illness and are in poverty. It is our duty not just as Muslims, but as simple human beings to help our fellow man. We shouldn’t stand aside and let suffering affect people who aren’t so different from us.

Most of us have so much to be thankful and grateful for. While we are in our warms homes, there is someone out there in the cold; while we are eating our hot dinner, there is someone out there starving; and while we are fit and healthy, there is someone suffering from illnesses such as malaria or HIV/AIDS.

Are you doing enough to help those suffering? Why not make it your New Year’s resolution to start something new and actively help someone who needs that something small to make a difference.