Home Letters For the 1st time in over 20 years, the annual Phillip Vanderhyden...
Dear Editor,
This year will mark 30 years since AIDS was first detected in Guyana and indeed the country has made many strides in reducing the spread of this virus in all administrative regions. But alas, there is a sad note on this milestone and that is for the first time in over 20 years, the annual Phillip Vanderhyden AIDS Walk will not take place on the last Sunday in October.
At the beginning of the heavily funded AIDS campaign, there were over 30 non-governmental organisations which were directly involved in the “AIDS fight” and Lifeline Counselling Services was one such organisation which also hosted the annual AIDS Walk in October.
Unfortunately, the NGO has little or no presence in the Guyana Civil Society landscape and hence no AIDS Walk. This is disgraceful and totally unacceptable. Where are the founders of this organisation? Some moved on to greater fields and no doubt turned their ungrateful backs on an institution which was a bedrock of the HIV fight. Shame!
On October 28, there will be no AIDS Walk and a community marginalised by AIDS and related stigma and discrimination will continue to live in despair as to “who will be there for them”?
Thank you LIFELINE for your fight over the years. Hope you can make a great rebound soon.
Regards,
Brian Singh
