On 1 December, World AIDS Day, The Dream programme , developed by the Community of Sant'Egidio, celebrates the many children born healthy, and the many stories of resurrection it has witnessed during these last 11 years of commitment in the fight against AIDS in 10 African countries.
On this day we also celebrate the grand alliance that DREAM has made with people affected by HIV in Africa, an alliance between many health practitioners and professionals, religious people, institutions, people of good will, and lay people and believers, Africans and non-Africans, to defend life, protect motherhood and promote women’s dignity.
For the first time in recent years, the virus is stopping its race in the world: infections and mortality are decreasing. Fighting HIV is giving and can still give an important contribution to achieving the Millennium Goals (see the document The Goal of a DREAM)
At a time of economic crisis, we are convinced that we must reaffirm the need for a true commitment so that the work of these years is not lost now that we can see the way to defeat AIDS. For this reason, the Universal Access to health care remains a challenging but essential frontier. The results of DREAM and the studies of WHO confirm it: we know how this goal is achievable, scientifically proven and economically viable.
Nothing is lost, Africa has sufficient energy, even if the figures and the economic crisis want to take away our hope, but we are asked for a new joint effort, a surge of initiatives to defend the lives of many Africans threatened by disease and poverty.
On behalf of the rights of those in need and those without a voice, as well as in the name of respect and solidarity that we must have for them, DREAM calls for a renewed commitment by all and a renewed alliance for a globalisation of solidarity that is manifested in the salvation of millions of sick people in Africa.
For more details visit also:
|