The world must come together to fight HIV and AIDS in Africa, but must remember they are not just African epidemics, former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda said yesterday in the Tsai Performance Center.
‘Humanity is touching the new millennium at a crossroads,’ he said. ‘We must start by realizing that HIV/AIDS is not an African problem; it is a problem that affects all humanity.’
During the event, entitled ‘AIDS in Africa,’ Kaunda called for the world to come together and continue the struggle against HIV and AIDS as a united community. Over 300 students and faculty attended the talk by this year’s president-in-residence for Boston University’s African Presidential Archives and Research Center.
Kaunda said it is not enough for individuals to educate themselves about AIDS; they must be able to educate others as well. It is the job of the rest of the world, not just Africa, to help stop the spread of the disease.
‘[Some Africans] believe that by raping a girl 6 years old they will cure AIDS,’ Kaunda said. ‘Education is what is required … Teaching is key, and once we believe it, our problems will go away.’
He reminded critics that Africa is doing all it can to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, but the battle is too expensive to fight alone.
‘It is not that Africa cannot do anything about the problem, but that our economic situation is hindering us from moving forward,’ he said. ‘Really, it is poverty that is killing us.
‘We can not avoid being our sister’s and brother’s keeper,’ he said. ‘HIV/AIDS cuts across all artificial borders it is a challenge for everyone, everywhere.’
Kaunda called for students to take an active role in searching for a cure.
‘You are the future,’ he said. ‘You are the hope of society. You have the potential to solve the challenges of our times. Your action, or inaction, affects everyone.’
Kaunda said prevention will come in three forms: ‘education, information and medication.’
Education is the responsibility of students at universities like BU, which brings together students from different fields of study, he said.
‘You come from various disciplines,’ Kaunda said. ‘You need to bring together the research of those disciplines and apply them to find solutions.’
As president of Zambia, Kaunda attempted to erase myths about AIDS and used his position to garner support from other countries to combat the virus. But Kaunda said students are the future of the struggle against the disease.
‘I am a couple steps behind the experts,’ he said. ‘I’m afraid I have no answer yet I am waiting for you.’
Kaunda urged Americans to fulfill their promises and work with Africa to find a solution.
‘We need the $15 billion that has been promised to us from President Bush to come quickly,’ he said. ‘We are waiting.’
K.C. Coffey, a College of Arts and Sciences senior, said she enjoyed the event and the personal touch that Kaunda gave to the issue.
‘I really liked being able to put a face to the African governments,’ she said. ‘He made it an issue about people, not just a virus … HIV goes beyond just the body and affects people.’
Mbosonge Mwenechanye, a recent graduate from Northeastern University, said that as a Zambian citizen, he has always seen HIV and AIDS as ‘our problem.’ He appreciated that Kaunda talked about the issue in different terms and tried to get more people involved.
‘Students are the solution,’ he said. ‘The sooner we realize that, the better my home will be.’