While the western world entertains itself with apocalyptic tales of mutant zombie outbreaks on the big screen, "Pandemic" by Stephen Lewis reminds us of a real outbreak that is devastating the continent of Africa. In this exert from his book: Race against time (2005), Mr. Lewis first tells us about his love affair with Africa. On a whim he went there and he has called it his second home ever since. Though Africa he says had its fair share of problems in the 1960's when he first arrived, the emergence of the HIV/AIDS pandemic has ravaged the people of this soulful continent and nearly all have been effected in some way or another.
Lewis gets personal with this piece. Their are a number of things I believe he wants the reader to feel. First would be sorrow. He tells stories of the people he has met and their seemingly unending hardship and loss due to this disease. Grandmothers who have lost their own children and are now raising their orphaned grandchildren. Children (some as young as 8), who are forced to raise their younger siblings when their parents have passed on from this sickness. Mothers who are left crying as their infants are taken away covered in blankets. These stories I believe are meant to pull at the readers heartstrings. He wants us to realize just how nasty this is.
Throughout the piece, Mr. Lewis tells the reader about the types of treatment that are available to the suffering. By doing this in contrast to what is readily available here in the western world, Lewis points out the double standard we have imposed on the third world. We have said that we are more important than those people over there. They are not worthy of the treatments we have.
Next is food. When Lewis was living in Africa in the 60's, he says that people were hungary but for the most part could get by. Now when he returns, the cries for hunger are so loud he is barely able to talk about the need for better medicine. Food is the most important medicine needed and sadly there is none to be found.
Though this situation looks helpless, Lewis still has hope. Not a hope for a cure or an end to the suffering, but an end to the western worlds blind eye to the people of Africa.
Do you think that the same medical treatment should be available to everyone regardless of where they live?
3 comments:
It is unfathomable that people in Africa are suffering from a disease that can be controlled by a treatment. Other Countries need to get Africans access to treatments that other sick people have access to. It is time for the world to put together a plan, gather their resources, and take action. There is no more time to waste. Children are losing their mothers and fathers, mothers are losing their young children, and the world is doing nothing.
Yes, I believe medical treatment should be available to everyone, regardless of where they live. People in Haiti were dying of Tetanus after being saved from the disaster. Although Haiti has different laws and is not required to take the immunization shot, it should still be readily available to prevent unnecessary death.
I think you did a great job analyzing this piece of writing!
I absolutely believe that the same medical treatment should be available to everyone regardless of where they are. I also believe this is far easier said than done. Many individuals and organizations are doing their small part to try and make this happen. We need to do this, but on a larger scale!
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