Stephen Lewis' Pandemic
Pandemic is a realistic view of one of the greatest disasters that a continent has ever suffered. Lewis writes it in a first person perspective, having gone and lived in Africa for much of his life. He shows both the scientific and personal sides of the story using examples from his experiences. He states both facts about the disease and it's treatment as well as simple prevention methods and what could be done to help. Cheap things like condoms, and more expensive things such as vaccines, nevirapine and educational programs. More importantly he speaks of his encounters with the people he meets with AIDS, as well as survivors and those widowed due to AIDS. His tone throughout is of deepest sorrow, this is especially evident when speaking to the grandmothers of those who lost entire family lines to the dreadful virus.
His audience is the rest of the world. The people of Africa have seen first hand the suffering it causes, but everywhere else in the world people are safe and don't bother to give a second look at it. Sure some people already donate money on a monthly basis to charities, so they may be the exception to his audience, but I believe his main goal of this essay was to raise awareness of one of the biggest problems the world has at the moment. Doctors Without Borders is an excellent example of a group of people who are working to solve the problem. I realize that not everyone can be a doctor and just hop on a plane to Africa to help out, but there are other ways. My sister is really big into this sort of thing, and she has been to Uganda twice, first with Habitat for Humanity to help build shelters, and second with a NGO to teach sexual education at the local schools. Some of her stories about what they told her about the myths of AIDS (for example toothpaste prevents it's transmission) I found absolutely absurd. It is hard for us living in first world countries to believe that someone would be so naive, but Lewis has seen it first hand and decided to do something about it.
Part of the reason I found Lewis' essay so compelling and emotional is because I can't even imagine it happening here. My grandfather passed away at 93, and my grandmother is still kicking at 91. My family reunions consist of well over 25 people, and that's just the family that lives in and around Victoria. Imagine if the AIDS pandemic spread to Canada, and North America in general. I think if we all experienced it first hand, everyone would be more motivated to help those in need until HIV and AIDS is something we read about in thick history texts such as the bubonic plague and mad cow disease.
His audience is the rest of the world. The people of Africa have seen first hand the suffering it causes, but everywhere else in the world people are safe and don't bother to give a second look at it. Sure some people already donate money on a monthly basis to charities, so they may be the exception to his audience, but I believe his main goal of this essay was to raise awareness of one of the biggest problems the world has at the moment. Doctors Without Borders is an excellent example of a group of people who are working to solve the problem. I realize that not everyone can be a doctor and just hop on a plane to Africa to help out, but there are other ways. My sister is really big into this sort of thing, and she has been to Uganda twice, first with Habitat for Humanity to help build shelters, and second with a NGO to teach sexual education at the local schools. Some of her stories about what they told her about the myths of AIDS (for example toothpaste prevents it's transmission) I found absolutely absurd. It is hard for us living in first world countries to believe that someone would be so naive, but Lewis has seen it first hand and decided to do something about it.
Part of the reason I found Lewis' essay so compelling and emotional is because I can't even imagine it happening here. My grandfather passed away at 93, and my grandmother is still kicking at 91. My family reunions consist of well over 25 people, and that's just the family that lives in and around Victoria. Imagine if the AIDS pandemic spread to Canada, and North America in general. I think if we all experienced it first hand, everyone would be more motivated to help those in need until HIV and AIDS is something we read about in thick history texts such as the bubonic plague and mad cow disease.