NMI must stem the spread of AIDS

The Issue: A single case of AIDS is enough to sound the alarm bell of this costly and deadly plague.

Our View: Aggressive public education is needed to stem the spread of this disease among all who live in these isles.

AIDS was once unheard of in this archipelago some 30 years ago. That we now have 30 people infected by it is sufficient for the entire community to rally behind the call to stem the spread of this deadly plague.

AIDS can be contracted through the use of needles among drug users, infected blood administered to patients through blood transfusion, same gender sex and promiscuity. One of these routes could land anybody a long bout with this crippling and deadly disease.

Indeed, the effects of modernity has its own price, including the loosening of value system about the consequences of casual sex. This is further fueled by the gradual adoption of permissiveness in a once very conservative community. Coupled with raw lewd materials and violence on television, young kids absorb what they see as something they now refer to as “cool”. Is it and shouldn’t there be parental intervention and discipline?

AIDS has very serious consequences both in terms of the loss of the quality of life and cost involved to attend to infected patients. One’s fortunate if he or she has health insurance to cover for all medical treatment. Otherwise, cost would have to be absorbed by taxpayers whether we like it or not.

Then there’s the family role involving their meager resources and energy. It’s an all too consuming permanent condition, thus the dire need to impose self-discipline to the hilt to spare your loved-ones the agony that you would have put them through.

Yes, public health officials are concerned of the rise in same sex activities here or married couples one of whom crosses over to the other side. It is a gender dysfunction that is difficult to deal with and we’re not even sure how must this community deal with it. Our best bet is an aggressive program to educate the young and those with such tendencies should be dealt with on a case by case basis. After all, they are the ones who deserve help and attention not the usual mockery that we level against them for their conditions.

Finally, public health officials need to veer off picture taking on proclamations about this lethal disease and focus on turning slogan into actual public education programs. There’s no more room for slogans. It’s time to act right here and now!