Robson, thank you so much for your sincerity and kind words so graciously bestowed on my anguished soul. I don't feel I'm in any way deserving of your kind words...maybe I'm a voice ...sounding brass, hollow drum...who knows. I'm so humbled and yet so indebted to those I represent that will never have a chance to write to this e-forum unless we teach and empower them with those skills. They will never be able to write about their pains and triumphs and how much they are doing in the most adverse circumstances and still make a difference in the lives of many. Those are my heroes..... I don't need the accolades...my bright stars are at the grassroots where few care to stop and take chai from an old enamel cup, and fresh peeled pineapple with a garden scent I long to savor. The small village is astirr because Fenna sits in the small mud hut having a town hall meeting and listening to the heartbeat and soul of Africa...the place where all the action is taking place.

 

Not everyone knows how to appreciate me for speaking the truth, asking for answers and backing up truth with facts. My deliberations are so menacing and meaningless that they are removed from the e-forum.

 

I don't fear to do this because we are playing with millions of lives here and no one should just sit back and shove things down anyone's throat. Why should anyone publish questionable data to justify the continuity of funding? This is grossly unethical and I dont need to contact the IG since this information is now in the public domain.

 

We use our power to make decisions over the fate of millions of people because we have kept them disempowered and illiterate. Someone needs to keep things in check here and this is called being accountable. Do we ground our practice on epistimology, research, ethics and what is factual on the ground? I don't see this happening here...I see practioners writing one thing while the situation in their country is vastly different. Someone has to disturb some one else's conscience to ensure practitioners practice responsibly. Unfortunately, I fear to say the problem is so deeply rooted that it will take a total paradigm shift to solve it ...time is against us ....30 million people's lives are at risk for premature morbidity, co-morbidities and mortality. I'm sorry but as a scholar and strong advocate for people's dignity I can no longer be silent.

 

South Africa was first to announce that their HIV/AIDS prevalence was wrong, Kenya followed, and Uganda and Tanzania are withholding this information from the world...Why? Do you know what the implications are of delaying this announcement?

 

This is where the Global Fund and you people should be responding and demanding action. Hundreds of thousands more are denied care...consequently facing opportunistic infections hard to treat and unavoidable mortality. South Africa and Kenya should be commended to come out and speak the truth that they are actually loosing the battle with HIV/AIDS and need help.

 

Africa is in deep trouble...they will not meet the MDG's unless a drastic paradigm shift takes place.

 

The Global Fund is putting out invitations for those of us to submit ideas of how the GF should look like in 5-10 years. My question to the Global Fund is why would you wait 5- 10 years to have a shift in paradigm when millions of people would 've already succumbed to HIV/AIDS?

 

We need a shift in paradigm now and we shall invite you at the right time when and where this will be taking place. We are in the business of saving lives not wasting time playing with people's lives.

 

If God keeps me alive I will be rolling out the models for the achievement of the MDGs and EFA 2000 Goals, the new African Renaissance to a select global audience of stakeholders...This opportunity is only 6 weeks away. The world will be put to the challenge when I present these new global models. If all goes well, 3 months from today there will be an international audience of stakeholders...and this one will come as a surprise...

 

If this e-forum means business we would have seen action a long time ago. I'm a woman of action and with a team of the most competent experts we are actually 10 years ahead of what the Global Fund is doing.

 

Fenna E. Bacchus