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Treatment works
06/12/2007 13:22 - (SA)
Georgina Guedes
I am a short, slight woman. I don't like crowds, and as a result, concerts are a pretty pointless excursion for me. I can't see the performers on the stage, and being jam packed between people I can't see over is not my idea of fun.
I do love dancing, though, so sitting through a concert in the bleachers, where I have a better view of the stage is also pretty pointless. But every so often, a band comes out that I simply have to put myself through my own idea of hell to see. This year, it was Razorlight.
Razorlight was performing at the 46664 concert, so the appeal of the event delivered a double whammy of being for a good cause - Aids awareness - as well.
Lathered up with sunblock, a group of four friends and I were dropped off by my mother, like we were still in high school, at the blockaded entrance to the Ellis Park area.
The security guards were a surly bunch, determined not to let anyone in with out a ticket, and continuing to treat us as if we were trying to break the law, even after we'd produced ours. A little exasperated with this approach, I eventually turned to one of them, and said, "It's a beautiful day. Smile!"
For a moment I thought he was going to bar me from the concert, but then he broke into a toothy grin and nodded his head at me. From this moment on, the concert was a hit.
It wasn't too full. We found our own little space on the grass where no one trampled us and from which we could see the screens perfectly. The sound was loud and clear. When a particularly good act came on, if I stood up, I could actually make out their forms on stage.
And Razorlight were fantastic.
The crux of the matter
The point of the concert was to raise Aids awareness. Nelson Mandela came on stage and said his piece, and I must confess that he was the greatest act of the concert, and I got a bit snuffly.
Later, Annie Lennox showed a video clip of a small girl with Aids who was brought to a clinic when she was at death's door. I tried not to get too wrapped up in the story, because I have a tendency to get snuffly about things, and from the appearance of the emaciated arms and crusty eyes of the child, it was clear she wasn't going to have a happy ending.
Much to my surprise, and everyone's, the next clip showed the same child, six months later, having received anti-retroviral treatment.
Her skin was clear, her cheeks and arms were plump and she was a glowing picture of health and vitality. Annie's comment, delivered at volume: "treatment works!"
Which brings me to my point. How is it that in a country that has the worst incidence of Aids in the world, where people die like that little girl was about to every day, where the one-time president Mandela, the greatest man alive on earth today, puts the entirety of his remaining energy behind the fight against the disease, does our government continue to skirt the issue?
How is it that in a country where people are dying a horrible, cruel and preventable death by the thousands, we are likely to elect, in the wake of a man who has been labeled as an Aids denialist, another man who is so dismissive of the reality of this problem, that he thinks that having a hot shower will take away the risk after he has slept with a woman known to be infected with the disease?
Come on, people. This country has a real problem, and it needs a real solution, beyond sweet potatoes and hot showers. The current president should have and the next president has to do something about this. We need to elect people on the strength of something greater than the nebulous premise that "he's a man of the people".
Aids policy questions should be the first ones we ask our nominees, and the defining concept on which this next presidential race pivots.
How many voters have to die before their friends and family realise that they have to put someone in power who will actually do something about the problem?
Georgina Guedes is a freelance journalist. Sometime she finds it hard to stay positive.
Send your comments to Georgina.
Disclaimer: News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24.
- News24
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simple.
06/12/2007 13:35
The answer is simple: ARV's costs money, and if money is spent on this, there won't be any left for BMW's and lavish overseas trips! - Besides who wants to use ARV's when you can just pop in to Fruit and Veg city and buy some garlic!? - Juan |
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It's a case of...
06/12/2007 13:44
...you preaching to the converted here Georgina.
The truth of the matter is that the majority of the voters do not get to hear this message.
They are too busy trying to survive. Waiting on their promised homes, water and electricity.
And they will vote for the same party and person who initially promised this to them, and so it goes... - wkdSA |
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wkdSA
06/12/2007 14:04
I agree on hundred %... - Janine |
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46664 is a joke....
06/12/2007 14:08
It sad to hear that an AIDS awareness campaign was organised and attended by the glamorously dressed people while the majority of south African who happens to be infected and affected are closed outside. Now that you have confessed your presence to the concert how many blacks were in attendance of the awareness, hypocrite tears. An exclusive 46664 concert for the rich and famous and the music line-up that includes white only yet crocodile tears we flowing when they shown the video of a black girl about to die. - kolobe |
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the majority in SA still
06/12/2007 14:18
does not think AIDS can kill, or in fact that they can get Aids from sleeping around as one of the ways to contract it. They on protecting their so-called 'cultures' and the men keep on sleeping around and insisting their wives to be should have a child before marriage. As for the GOV, they don't give a damn, they are safe and fed! - Sarong |
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Same Again
06/12/2007 14:24
I find it diffucult to have sympathy for the masses who sufer, but will vote for the same idiots in government over and over again. People should realise that building, street and airport name changes (which costs huge sums of money) are not going to save them. Use people power and vote for a government who have the peoples interest at heart!! - True Blue SA |
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Its sad
06/12/2007 14:27
that people who fought for their freedom, a better life and our beautiful country have to suffer at the hands of dictators... We need a strong opposition but the real question is, how do we inform them that what they believe in is allot of bull? - Pam |
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You enjoyed the glamour with select few..now you want to enlighten us...
06/12/2007 14:29
It sad to hear that an AIDS awareness campaign was organised and attended by the glamorously dressed people while the majority of south African who happens to be infected and affected are closed outside.now imagine if the video was shown to the majority of voters, I think it would have made a difference..now keep your stupid info we will vote the ANC.segregation comes back to bite..how about that??? - kolobe |
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unlike treatment, politics don't work
06/12/2007 14:34
well, there was a time, and you get the unusual case where it does. the sad thing is how politics (with its braai buddies...money and power) rule the world instead of basic human needs. only the USA hasn't signed Kyoto and SA is losing thousands of people every month due to aids and crime. i dunno what the human being thinks he is these days...
- captain ubuntu |
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The message
06/12/2007 14:35
I too went just to see Razorlight, and some of the other performers but what Madiba said did ring true, same as Annie lennox's msg as well. So much so in fact, that myself and the group of friends I was with at the concert all went and got tested on monday evening (Clean bill of health), and have also resolved to give anyone who says HIV and AIDS don't exist, or that the cure is a shower or clove of garlic, a resounding clap around the ears. We need to all spread the message. - Andrew |
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Treatment Works???
06/12/2007 14:39
ARV's don't help much if you don't have the money for food or if you are part of the Millions out there who are squatting or worried if they have R280 to pay for their shack rent.it does not help if the future looks bleak anyway 'cause you can't get job... - Kinkiwe |
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Aids awareness
06/12/2007 14:46
Kolobe, your comments are uncalled for. Where do you think the money comes from if not from the RICH majority/glam peopple. I suppose that the poor infected people does contribute to the good cause OR NOT. Please do not attack the people with good intentions!!! - Pamela |
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Let me see....
06/12/2007 14:57
Kolobe, you definitely have huge chip on your shoulder. What? Did not have enough money to rub shoulders with the glamorous people? Who do you think will fund projects when the government is busy buying Mercs, BMW's and plane tickets. The glamorous people that care more that the government you support. - High |
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Treatment helps
06/12/2007 15:00
My question is where is all the money going ? so many millions is collected on each concert and yet so little hospice places for treatment! bottom line no one really cares in this country about Aids victims. - Susan |
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how?
06/12/2007 15:03
Kolobe, such blatant naivety and open racism is shocking to say the least. Can you see that you are the only negative person posting comments? We try to build a nation, but it is people like you who stand in the way. Start living for the future and learn from past mistakes to not make them again. - Andries |
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Kolobe U Rock
06/12/2007 15:05
Kolobe is spot on with his observations concerning the makeup of the audience. However, I thought that the purpose of the event was in fact to raise money for the poor who he purports to support. Without these people who supported the event, there would have been no concert, hence no funds raised. What else can I say... - saliem |
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WHAT WAS THE GOAL OF THE CONCERT.
06/12/2007 15:06
Was the goal of the concert to entertain those who are poor and have HIV/AIDS or was it to collect money from those (black and white) with some kind of means so that money can go towards those whom have HIV/AIDS? The bitterness of this country is getting to me! - Christiaan |
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To Kolobe
06/12/2007 15:13
Why does it always have to do with black and white????? You are and idiot, the last 46664 concert had a mainly black line up!! Did any whites complain?? NO! It's for a worthy cause, AIDS awareness. It is a disease that affects everyone!! Why is this such an issue to you!?
It was for a good cause, there were no hypocrite tears, geez, thinking about it again, your comment was extremely nasty. Who are you to judge?? Get a life you racist idiot. - Villian |
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Kolobe...
06/12/2007 15:18
Were you at the concert? Probably not, because from what I heard, the attendance was more or less fifty fifty. It was not about who attended, it was about AIDS AWARENESS, a disease that affects everyone. - Villian |
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Kolobe..
06/12/2007 15:19
Dude...... ag never mind, you one of those people who still think the world is flat. - A DJ |
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Chat or point?
06/12/2007 15:20
I agree with your 'point', and it is very sad that more is not done by the government - when will it change. Pity we had to hear about being dropped off and other useless personal stuff first. - MJ |
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Sorry....
06/12/2007 15:23
While I know there are a lot of innocent victims out there, the majority of Aids sufferers got that way because of there own lack of morals and intelect. While the masses are still intent on shagging or raping anything with a pulse - including there own family - I find it extremely difficult to have sympathy. As Christian I know my attitude stinks, but as a practical human being, I cant help it. - jonno |
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Aim of the concert
06/12/2007 15:38
Kolobe... bigoted, unreasonable people like you make me want to pack up and leave SA for good. - Cape Town reader |
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They don't know
06/12/2007 15:46
Government simply does not know what to do. Haven't you heard the expression a hundred times before... so and so happened and now "...we don't know what to do...eijsh". And that's it. They don't know and they don't care. But the REAL problem arises from bad morals and bad culture. No knowledge, no powah. No matter how you empower those blokes in the black suits, they will remain in the dark. Maybe they like to see their braddahs die. Who knows. Ask Dctr Beetroot. - Pieter |
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HIV/Aids
06/12/2007 15:47
Just a point to ponder. The latest statistics show that HIV is affecting white females between 15 and 30 years of age at a faster rate currently than any other race group. Kolobi, you are senseless and ignorant. We are all at risk and that black child could have easily been a white child. Do you care what race is affected or do you care that we all get treatment to fight the disease. Your comments have no place in this forum. It is people like you who keep us stuck in the past. - Nicky |
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By the way
06/12/2007 15:47
I think your'e darn cute, and you can quote me on that! - Pieter |
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Aids and this government
06/12/2007 16:01
Well written Georgina. I agree with all you have written here and I agree with wkdSA. We need to lobby the way they do overseas. I've written about this more than once. We are unfortunately a very lazy bunch of constituents and we need to DO SOMETHING ABOUT this nonsense that goes on and on and on.... How do we tell the "people" that if a certain gent becomes president of this lovely country we will be the laughing stock of the rest of the world! Come on South Africans!!!! - Dee Shiels |
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Its all pointless
06/12/2007 16:02
Where is the money raised going? Its keeping the administrators in their high paying jobs. And if you really did your research, ARV's, without proper nutrition, are the same as doing chemotherapy for the rest of your life.They will kill you.
By the way -How many white people have HIV? Why do we never see them in the news? Or maybe white people are immune? And then we deny that there is racism in the media? Kolobe, spot on. - bev |
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Kolobe
06/12/2007 16:25
Should we take the time to look around us, we will notice a very stark reality about the people we live with, there is no love, not for themselves and certainly not for each other. Perhaps something we might want to consider, should we want to change this country. Instead of focussing on what others are not doing or how others are not meeting our expectations, let's start to look at ourselves. How do our words and actions impact on our own and other people's lives? - Lorraine |
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Treatment works only...
06/12/2007 16:28
The provison of healthcare entials more than HIV treatment availability. When you have an overburdened health system & only so much funds to distribute among many other "issues" e.g. schools, housing, grants...then something's got to give, or tax should be increased. Are you insinuating govt redirect funds meant for elsewhere for HIV treatment? If so, what should give-govt can barely provide the basics. Maybe we should be also focus more on responsibe behaviour to stay HIV-free (if you can) - lekkalik |
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What's the issue?
06/12/2007 16:46
Last year a burglar bit a friend of mine. He had to take ARVs and this made him so sick that he wondered why people are fighting to have access to this stuff. - Mike |
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But all those children...
06/12/2007 17:01
Imagine if we gave HIV positive mothers anti retrovirals to prevent mother to child infections. All those children would be born healthy with a mother (and probably father) who could well die soon thereafter...and then you have thousands more healthy orphans to look after at government expense for 18 years! Better to let them die...I think maybe this is the reason the government is not interested! - DW |
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One death is one death too many
06/12/2007 18:41
Kolobo I didn't have the money to attend the concert AND was in mourning for my adopted son of 7 who died 4 days before the concert. One teaspoon of medicine at birth or timeous access to ARVs would have saved his life. We would not have had to watch his painfully unecessary death. While this was happening, I wondered how many other people there were who were in vigil at the deathbeds of those they love. I'm white, my son was black. Manto is a black diamond - so are you. What is your point?? - Geraldine |
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Kolobe............. ai
07/12/2007 08:07
Kolobe, the whole point of 46664 is to RAISE MONEY for ARV'S. So, the 'rich and famous' attending the concert, had to pay 'rich and famous' prices to be there. That's how they contribute. Also as far as I know, all the performers performed for free, so you can only imagine what a large amount of money was contributed to ARV's. Anyway, the whole concert was broadcasted on SABC, so everyone could watch it, I watched it at home, and it was great. Stop moaning about nonsense. It's irritating. - Monika |
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AIDS DENIALIST you say is the president....ignorant fool....
07/12/2007 08:25
The president does not have to believe hear-say stories,he requested evidence from the NPA againts Zuma and rightfully sacked him,there was no evidence againts Selebi,yet a warrant of arrest he sacked the NPA boss,He never rebuffed AIDS he said "If there is any medical proof that linking HIV towards AIDS bring it"obviously we all know that Europian capitalists cause a stir just to milk out money from Africa.You cannot just believe everything as a president.good President this Thabo Mbeki. - kolobe |
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