AIDS 'has killed 2m Nigerians' (2)
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Gentlemen,
I have read many of your comments, expressions and updates con-
cerning the AIDS problem.
We all must accept the fact that it will not be solved by cur-
rent world systems, because the current world systems are in
most part responsible for the worldwide spread and continued
lack of addressing this Weapon of Mass Destruction and Death
(WMDD).
"Never again", relative to the horrors and loss of life under
Hitler's regime, "never did" apply to Africans or Nigerians, as
is evident from this and many other curable and preventable dis-
eases which plague and kill "Millions of Africans annually".
This AIDS problem in Nigeria must be solved by Nigeria, its peo-
ple and its government.
Outside money being thrown blindly at the problem does little in
the long term, because the truth is that development funding and
health funding in large amounts, hardly if ever never reaches
the people that really need it in Africa. That has always been
the case in Africa and it shall always be the case.
The government there must take responsibility and "create" meth-
ods within Nigeria's system to create the education, the funding
and the needed "citizen involvement" that is necessary to change
this situation.
To start, all Nigerians "both infected and otherwise" must ac-
cept responsibility to help their fellow country citizens.
In my view, some of the following are needed and applies to AIDS
and all other diseases there:
1) Institution of a mandatory-national health policy involving
youth and healthcare workers. These will serve weekly volunteer
hours locally towards this problem.
2) A regional tax specifically earmarked for health centers
etc...
3) A National tax of 5% added to each of the countries export
products.
4) National, Central, Regional, District, Local distribution for
needles, and also for the collection of these needles along with
a dirty needle buyback fee, payable to the local centers.
Uganda is a great example of what can be done to help this AIDS
issue if the Healthcare establishment and the government work
together along with an adjusted economic policy.
Looking to "outside countries" or agencies for the "bulk" or
"complete" educational and financial solutions will never begin
to solve this problem. No one will care more for Nigerian sons
and daughters, mothers and fathers than their families, which
are their fellow citizens and countrymen who are also Nigerian.
Meanwhile we should all do what we can to spread economic value
to these areas through positive international trade and solid
NGO participation.
John Ward
Ward Associates
Tel. +1-410-896-3398
Fax: +1-410-896-9554
mailto:ward-assoc@att.net