My 2 months in Africa

Back to 2006 , I have decided to visit Africa , a continent that has allowed HIV progresses from none to fullness . In Africa , especially subsaharan countries . HIV has progressed without resistant estimated back to about 1910 - 1940 . Humans contracted HIV from interactions with chimpanzees, starting with infections from hunting and butchering chimps.

Trip to Vietnam and HIV lesson by the " less developed but wiser " nation

From Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi - thanks Airasia



1st part of my backpacking trip Vietnam - China

1st : Hanoi >> China - Vietnam pass >> China - Detian waterfall



Vietnam and its living standard and educational level
Take a look at Hanoi
Please don't ask me about their GDP ( vietnam ), share market value etc
But I can show you their vehicles and dresses .
From here ,you can estimate their living standard .

1. Cycling to school , was me about my 20 years ago in Malaysia





A superficially less educated and less developed country - Vietnam
But they may be much more wiser than us .
Let take a look at their attitude about HIV - a disease that can burn a whole nation if you miss the early boat to wrap the inflamed wood logs


First , please travel around the capital city of Malaysia , Kuala Lumpur with its almigthy twin tower .
If you can find an advertisement board about danger of HIV in Malaysia that has increased 10 folds since 13 years ago .
I am willing to chop my head for you to sit on it , but only for 3 seconds ,
but please don't flatus on me .




Then ,please direct your focus point to the north and fix at Vietnam


During my bus trip from Hanoi to Langson - friendly pass between China Vietnam
I had seen at least a HIV promotion board by the roadside every 20 minutes , even though there are simple and cheap .


First 20 minutes



40 minutes later on the road



60 minutes later on my trip to border



1 hour 20 minutes later toward the friendship pass



100 minutes after left Hanoi





............. 4 hours later , at the friendship pass



Then I have arrived at the friendly pass between Vietnam and China
Langson - Ping Xiang

From there , it took me an overnight trip to get to Detian Waterfall , the largest transnational waterfall in Asia .
















Thanks , dear Vietnamese for your kind thoughts and taugths .

10 of 10 things you ought to know about HIV

Issue of condom Issue of IVDU Issue of pregnancy related transmission

8th of ten things you ought to know about HIV

Malaysia , a country that rushing toward developed country status in next 13 years - The Almighty Vision 2020 Our local potential - Malaysia We have all the ingredients to nurture a 1% HIV Malaysian community Back to basic principles in production of infectious disease We need Source + HIV type 1 / 2 + route of transmission + susceptible patient + incubation period HIV source we have 78784 HIV patients confirmed in Malaysia mid of 2007 . But we believe that there are another 75,000 hiding somewhere in Malaysia as HIV patients can't be recognised by naked eyes , under reported due to non- universal HIV blood testing . In short , estimated > 100,000 HIV patients live in Malaysia among us . These 100,000 HIV patients are strong workers who works faithfully and quitely for HIV factory . year 2000 5107 new cases year 2001 5938 new cases year 2002 6978 new cases year 2003 6756 new cases year 2004 6427 new cases HIV is gathering his armies till the critical mass achieved , then an epidemic . Route of transmission a. Intravenous drug users - In malaysia , we have ~100,000 drug addicts using injectable drugs Of them , ~ 80% are sexual active , ~ 80% never use condom , ~ 80% share needles > 5 drug addicts . ~ 80% use injectable drugs 3 times perday ( breakfast , lunch , dinner ) . b. Sex We have about 40 ,000 commercial sexual workers estimated . We have many massage shops who hang the goat's head but selling dog's meat . We have 5 star hotels offering 5 stars sexual service . We have more youngsters involve in sexual debut at younger age VIAGRA = Tongkat Ali bin Clinton Viagra performance More than 10 millions men 30 millions prescriptions 300 millions tablets since launching 1998 Estimated total income 2001 alone USD 1500,000,000 RM 5500,000,000 = 100 millions SI We have more broke back mountaineers . In short ; up approach <> c. Pregnancy If HIV is not checked before planning for pregnant ordetected at late pregnancy , transmission for mother to babies can be as high as 30% . Virus 1. This virus has one imporatnt property Diam diam ubi berisi or silent dogs kill someone by single bite HIV has killed 25 millions people in last 25 years = Malaysia population = 100 Tsunamis HIV has infected 65 millions people = 3 times malaysian population More alarming is , it has created 100 Tsunamis but created minimal Huha in our society . 4. Susceptible Recipients We always believe that HIV only happens on other people's husband / wife / children But from statistic , > 80% of HIV Malaysian are between 20 - 49 years of age = very productive economically and fertile . Vaccine is not available now and no news n next 10 years . 5. Incubation period Finally with 4 tasty ingredients , we put them in a HIV microwave that takes 5 - 10 years to generate a HIV patients , 50 years a HIV community . 6. With 4 ingredients + adequate time to incubate , we are going to have a HIV community of at least 300,000 Malaysian HIV positive in next 13 years . Dear Malaysian , please don't blindly rushing toward vision 2020 . Otherwise , our next generation is going to suffer from our ignorance , stigmatization and denial . Syabas , Malaysia Boleh again

7th of 10 things you ought to know about HIV

Principles in curbing HIV

HIV and treatment , if together with love and caring

6th of 10 things you ought to know about HIV

Prognosis a. If without treatment , we takes 10 years as average life span from time of infection . b. With HAART therapy , many survive beyonds 20 years .But beside HAART , we need a loving and supportive environemnt to ensure 95% adherence and complicance to treatment .

5th of 10 things you ought to know about HIV

Route of transmission HIV is transmitted by 1. sex - up approach ( peno- oral approach ) < - front approach ( peno -vaginal approach ) < - Back approach ( peno anal approach ) - highest of all three approach in term of risk 2. Intravenous drug users y sharing needle among HIV positive partners and among Malaysian Intravenous drug users , estimated 20% are HIV positive 3. Pregnancy The risk is about 25 - 30% from HIV prgnant mother to their beloved baby . The risk surges as high as 40% among African mother with HIV if no intervention is given. 4. Blood transfusion High risk fluids are 1. blood or any fluid contaminated by blood 2. semen 3. Cervical / vaginal secretion 4. Breast milk If HIV infected blood is transfused ( due to donors who lack of community's responsibility ) to the recipient . HIV is not transmitted 1. insect bites 2. sharing same toilet / swimming pool 3. sharing same foods 4. official blood donation 5. kissing 6. casual contact in school and working place

Trip to Bhutan , learn from the wise Bhutanese

Bhutan in action , with its people , culture , art and sceneries


1. Simple people without handphone and travel on bus - 11 ( feet )






2. Clean environment requires no cosmetic decoration other than flower with its
natural companion , the bee

3. Their national animal , with goat head and cow's trunk - er ... its name is .....

4. Simple people with simple heart and simple religion

5. Bright and colorful attire ,shoes and flags lighten up their daily life

Trip to Bhutan , 2007 - a live HIV education by Bhutanese Bhutan, which means “land of the thunder dragon” is locked in by Asian giants India and China. Government data show it has a population of 734,340. Bhutan has one of the world’s smallest and least developed economies. Agriculture and forestry provide the main livelihood for more than 90 percent of the population , but has a lot of potential in sectors such as hydropower and tourism. Despite of this , tourism, a potential source of large revenue, continue to be severely restricted by expensive ( USD 200 / day ) and inflexible package tours ( all tourists need to pre plan their trip with local tour before arrival ) . This is to ensure tourists that visit this country are of environmental friendly and cultural conscious . Unlike many countries that willing to earn their Gross National Product ( GNP ) in the expense of their culture and environment . Bhutan , a country that many steps behind Malaysia if it is measured by GNP , numbers of handphones and internet access etc bla ... bla ... bla . 1. Television was introduced in the early 1990s, but programs are available mainly in the capital Thimphu. 2. Internet access followed in 2001 3. Cellular phone service in November 2003. What is Bhutanese's wisdom ? 1. Last December, Bhutan became the first country in the world to impose a complete ban on the sale of all tobacco products. 2. Domestic Product and says development should be understood as a process that seeks to maximize happiness rather than economic growth. 3. Environmental care is implemented by their people in simplest and cheap ways .

FINALLY , MY LIVE HIV EDUCATION PROGRAM AND BHUTANESE'S WISDOM

A. HIV IN BHUTAN IS LESS THAN 100 DOCUMENTED .

B. THERE ARE MARIJUANA EVERYWHERE IN THE TOWN ALONG THE ROADSIDE BUT DON'T HAVE DRUG ADDICTS LYING ON ROADSIDE

AGAIN THEY ARE WISE ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE 5 " TINY " THINGS CAN'T BE TAKEN LIGHTLY

1. Fire

2. Prince

3. Young priest / Monk

4. Desire

5. HIV virus

Because these things can lead the whole world to glory or disaster if allowed to grow .

HIV in Bhutan is like little fire at the tip of a match .But they understand that if the match get thrown to a jungle , it can burn the whole jungle .

Now , there are less than 100 HIV patients in Bhutan . But they have done much much more than us , Malaysian with at least 75,000 HIV live in Malaysia now .

WE HAVE ABC , THEY HAVE ABCDE

A. ABSTINENCE THROUGH RELIGION

Being a Mahayana - Buddhism Country

B. BE FAITHFUL TO THE FAITHFUL

C. CONDOM - free ( hotel / pharmacy store )

D. DON'T ABUSE DRUGS , DON'T SHARE NEEDLE IF ALREADY ADDICTED

MARIJUANA IS UBIQUITOUS ON THE STREET AS DECORATION

E . EARLY BLOOD TESTING FOR LOVE

There know what is " sediakan payung sebelum hujan "

Bhutan has < 100 HIV positive to date , they tell their citizen - No time to joke with AIDS .
DEAR Malaysian , we have at least 75000 HIV positive in Malaysia .

many People still think that I am joking or busy body trying to promote HIV awareness to everyone .

I don't care - who you are ; Where you from ; What you did

Please check your HIV status for love and not just keep making love .

3rd - 10 things you ought to know about HIV

Has HIV came to the end of its pandemic ?
Or
It is still on its gearing up phase

HIV is still in its toddler phase in Malaysia .
This disease has great potential to spread further and deeper in our society.
I wish to share with all of you about the lessons and expeiences that I had learned during my 2 months stay in Africa about 2 years ago .
Africa , visualized from far is a place full with diseases , famine and poverty .


What are the consequences for the macho Masai / subsaharan's Guys in Tanzania ..... ?

The Masai practises polygamy and unsafe sex .
The Masai practises nomadic lifestyle
When Masai + Polygamy + Nomadic + HIV = Disaster

What type of disaster that the Masai's and subsaharan's guys are facing now ?


Masai in their house




For the guys , they need to face death . But everyone of us have to face death eventually .
The nature of their death is
1. die prematurely
average lifespan in the country that I have visited , Malawi is 37.5 year-old .
2. die in reversed pattern
The gray hairs ( grandmothers ) escort the darkhair ( sons ) to funeral
The dark hairs escort the no hair ( babies ) to funeral
3. die without dignity
Even though the prevalence is up to 15 - 20% , stigmatization is still perpetuate in Malawi ,
Africa .



How about pretty girls / ladies in subsaharan ,Africa ?



They have 15 -20 % chance of getting a HIV positive husband .
If this happens , their life will change at an acute bend .
In Soweto , South Africa
40% of pregnant mother are HIV positive .
40% risk that their babies will get infected .
70% claimed to be virgin and faithful
Subsequently , they will produce millions of orphans .


Finally , the children ?

When HIV has progresses from men , women , pregnant women and susequently to the children .

The children have to go through , again very premature death .

In Malawi ,

of 100 children born - 15 of them have no chance to blow the first year birthday 's candle .

of 100 children grow - 25 of them have no opportunity to blow their 5 candles at their birthday

Because of these occurence , we can get many 24 hours coffin shops near to my hospital .

For convenience sake , you may get to buy a wooden made chair and furnitures in the same coffin shop ( Malawi coffin and furniture shop ~ court mammoth ).

Due to many premature death , there are small , medium and large size coffin to cater the demand of dying children to adult .

The bright side of Africa in action

But in actual fact , there are hundreds of breathtaking views in this continent .I have flown from KL to India , then Tanzania , then Zambia and Zimbabwee , then Malawi , then South Africa , then Namibia , then Tanzania and Malaysia

Animals in Tanzania

Art in Tanzania - life of Masai



Cute beach boys and girls in Zanzibar , Tanzania

Cape town , South Africa

Namib Dessert , Namibia

Fish River Canyon , Namibia

Cape town from Table mountain , South Africa

Malawi

Victoria Fall , Zambia / Zimbabwee

3rd BRING HOME MESSAGE

Don't wait and see , Don't deny and Please walk our talk

HIV has great potential and long way to go .

It works 24 hours a day , 365 days a week .

It is not going to wait for you to catch up with its pace before progresses deeper and wider in our society .

The sequelae on us is beyond our imagination when HIV comes into equilibrium in a society where number of HIV men = HIV ladies .