The Fight Against AIDS in Africa: Part I

AN ETHIOPIAN WOMAN IS LEADING THE FIGHT AGAINST
AIDS/HIV IN AFRICA

Elleni Gebreamlak West, a native of Ethiopia, is leading the fight against the deadly HIV/AIDS disease of the century. In Ethiopia and most African countries (with exception Ghana, Senegal and Uganda), the disease is a subject that no one wants to talk about, although it is taking thousands of lives, particularly vulnerable in Ethiopia women, children and youth.

We decided to find out about the African HIV Initiative and its founder and president, Ms. Elleni Gebreamlak West; our fellow Ethiopian woman; who is in charge of such a project of great magnitude. We called Ms. West to do an interview and she granted it to us.

I met Ms. Elleni at her Dunster Street office at W.E.B. DuBois Institute for Afro-American Research at Harvard University. I found Ms. Elleni to be very passionate when she talked about the African International program and what she wants to accomplish, and is determined and committed to make the project work. Yet she was also modest when she was asked about her accomplishments.

Mela: When and why did you become an HIV/AIDS activist for Ethiopia/Africa, since you have been living here in the United States for quite some time?

Elleni: I go to Ethiopia at least once a year; some times twice a year. I have been aware of the HIV/AIDS virus in Ethiopia. However, it was not until 1996 that I took the problem so seriously when one of my best friends got infected with it and later died from it.

Mela: How did you find out that he was infected with the HIV/AIDS virus?

Elleni: People told me about his illness and I asked him. At first he did not want to tell me, but after several visits and questions he finally admitted that he is infected with the virus. (She added that her many years of experience working as counselor did play a major role in her friend's admission.) Then I decided to bring to the attention of the world about the spread of HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia.

Mela: Can you tell us a little bit about how the first International Conference on AIDS in Ethiopia began?

Elleni: Three years ago I attended "The Untold Story AIDS and Black America," a conference that was organized by the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute. At the end of the meeting I asked Professor Henry Louis Gates, the Director of the Afro-American Studies Department at Harvard University, and he agreed to sponsor my project. Then I decided to bring Dr. Seyoum Ayehunie, an Ethiopian scientist who first identified the HIV/ AIDS virus in Ethiopia in 1985. He too agreed to join me as well.

Mela: We heard that you had a big conference in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. How long did it take to have a conference of such magnitude? Why was it called the first International Conference on AIDS in Ethiopia under the theme 'Fighting for life" since your primary concern was only Ethiopia?

Elleni : It was called The First International Conference on AIDS in Ethiopia because of the participation of Africans from more than 14 countries and many renowned scientists from around the world. Ethiopia was the focus of the conference but the international community was involved because AIDS is a global problem and one that affects all in Africa. It was also an International because we received support from many institutions besides those in Ethiopia ­ World Bank, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Harvard University and others. The Conference took us two years.

Mela: You talked about involvement of international organizations. Were there any local grassroots organizations, and institutions involved?

Elleni: Yes, the conference benefited from the support of a number of Ethiopian groups, including the science faculty of Addis Ababa University, The Christian Relief Development Agency, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewhedo Church, the Islamic Affairs Supreme Council dedicated Ethiopian individuals.

Mela: Obviously it was a well publicized and perhaps well- financed conference, but did you try to contact and invite Ethiopian doctors and social workers to the conference within Ethiopia itself?

Elleni: Yes we did. We contacted as many organizations as we could. 10,000 invitations were sent out to all Ethiopians who have been involved and who might be interested in fighting the HIV/AIDS virus. Invitations were sent out to the people in the countryside and as a result 190 Ethiopian Representatives from different regions of the country were able to attend the conference. The conference also included 75 AIDS orphans between the ages of nine and fifteen.

Mela: There are skeptics who say the problem of Ethiopia are so great that the highly publicized HIV/AIDS conference might not make any difference. What do you say to these people?

Elleni: I am well aware of the problems that our country faces and I don't deny those problems. However, we should do what we can do our best at that. I am not a doctor or a politician. I am an HIV/AIDS activist. I will do what I can and the rest should do their part as well. As for me, I will be an HIV/AIDS activist for as long as I live, my life has been change forever.

Mela: Do you think that you make a difference? Was their any special moment that you remember from the rally or the conference?

Elleni: I think for the first time I helped break the silence to make way for an open and honest dialogue. I think I exposed the problem for the first time in a big way, before that AIDS has been a taboo subject in Ethiopia. People turned a blind eye to its existence. The special moment for me was when an HIV/AIDS infected woman spoke before an audience of 1,500 people and shared her experience.

 

Mela: What are you trying to accomplish to help ease the problem?
Elleni: We are trying to build an HIV/AIDS headquarter in Ethiopia that will benefit not only Ethiopians but also other African countries of African region because if the people of Kenya, Sudan or any other neighbors are not ok, the people of Ethiopia are not going to be ok either.

We should all congratulate and support Ms. Elleni Gebreamlak West, for taking such an important step to help find a cure for HIV/AIDS,­ not only for her native country Ethiopia but also for other African countries of the East African region.

 

Part II : WOMEN AND AFRICA'S SECOND REVOLUTION