As Nagas commemorate together another World AIDS Day, it is worthwhile for us to reflect and critically assess whether we have Stopped AIDS, and Kept the Promises made in year gone by. Surely, we will find there is much room for improvement and promises to be fulfilled. For the sake of those who have already passed away, and for those who continue to struggle every moment of their lives against this disease, we must no doubt collectively celebrate in expressing our solidarity to continue fighting AIDS with a human face, without losing sight of our shared humanity.
In the last few years the campaign against HIV/AIDS has intensified and there have been waves after waves of activities, campaigns and initiatives in the human effort to try and address immediate as well as long term needs to overcome AIDS. So many, to the extent that we have not been able to collectively evaluate the progress and to critically examine the areas that demand more concentrated focus and efforts. The lack of such evaluation has obviously raised concerns because unless we learn the lessons learned from past experiences, it is unlikely that the present movement against AIDS will progress as desired.
In the event of such stagnation, the theme ‘Accountability’ under which we gather to commemorate and celebrate World AIDS Day is symbolically very significant and vital for future efforts. It is critical that the process of Accountability begin first from the government agencies given the responsibility of constructively engaging with AIDS and the dilemmas arising out of it. A public procedure of Accountability must be established so that an honest and transparent process is made possible. It is essential that the government be able to democratically demonstrate that it has been functioning with utmost integrity in the fight against AIDS.
Similarly, it is equally crucial that HIV/AIDS NGOs are held accountable, in order to enable them to become more responsible. With NGOs assuming greater role in the implementing of activities and building relations with positive people and communities affected by HIV/AIDS, the question of public accountability becomes imperative. Otherwise we could very well induce a situation where NGOs assume and yield too much power, power beyond what they can responsibly discharge. Examples where NGOs have monopolized power and resources, including the voices of positive people have occurred mostly in third world countries. Nagas cannot afford to unwittingly create such undesirable situations.
Positive people and those affected by AIDS must be at the forefront of the campaign against AIDS. It is in the stories, experiences and hope of the positive community that we find the human face and one to which a society identifies with. Consequently, it is vital that positive people and those affected by AIDS lay the foundation of accountability in the way they organize and structure themselves, and respond to the challenges which AIDS poses to humankind. Positive people must use their moral authority with values that are consistent in the making of a just and secure society.
The question of Accountability is fundamental to the Naga campaign against HIV/AIDS; and central to this collective effort is the imperative need to ensure that the campaign is founded on democratic principles and human values. As Nagas convene once more on this day, we are called upon as individuals, organizations, communities, churches and government to make and keep the promise of stopping AIDS in holding true to ourselves by pledging to act with accountability.
