Bits and Pieces #1: Congo. A Cure for AIDS?

Congo Revisited & Some Really Good People

Civil wars and fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have decimated the infrastructure and hurt the populace since the advent of colonialism. Under dictator Mobutu Sese Seko and since then, over 5 million Congolese have been killed, making the civilian death toll the worse since the end of World War II. The poor people of this country have suffered greatly. Despite being one of the richest countries in the developing world with its gold, minerals, ore and timber, its riches have gone to a privileged few with almost nothing trickling down to the masses. In all parts of the world (including in the U.S.), travelers are used to panhandlers with their hands out but in the DRC, people came up to me begging for water and food – it was very sad.

Not all privileged Congolese are to blame for the laissez faire attitude toward corruption. Some foreign businessmen, acting together with duplicitous neighboring countries and diverse rebel factions, are involved in robbing the natural resources for their own gain. They “see” what I see but they choose not to recognize what they are doing because as one put it: “I’m here to make money… It’s just the way here.” I met some incredibly nice ex-pats but also a few shady characters. I can only imagine how improved the lot of the population would be if the true profits from taking the DRC’s resources were accounted for, taxed and government funds made it back to help these impoverished people.

Can you imagine how the AIDS problem could be better handled if more government resources were made available?
The positive news is the dedication and contribution of young Congolese who are helping their country fight HIV/AIDS. Our Congo trip was the result of a lot of hard work by Joel Vengo, a graduate exchange student living near Portland, Maine. When I sent out notices in the late spring that I was planning on visiting countries in Africa, Joel heard about it and e-mailed me that he could assist me. He was involved with a non-profit organization called RACOJ-SIDA. He made repeated phone calls and e-mails to colleagues in the DRC. Literally, without his help and expertise, the trip would not have been as productive.

The only way to get into the Congo is with permission of the government based on written invitations from respected organizations or businesses. Joel was able to get me an official invitation from Tresor Kasia, the head of RACOJ. Without it, the expensive visas would have been nearly impossible. As I look back on our work there, I am indebted to Joel for his dedication to both TeenAIDS and his countrymen.

However, I met some truly incredible people who deserve recognition. One young man, Herve, whom we called “Kevin” was 18 and heard me speak at his English language school. When he volunteered, I sent him over to Samuel, a University of Kinshasa student who was helping me through RACOJ. The two of them helped tremendously. Both of them spoke very good English, as did our great RACOJ helpers, Princess and Dandy. In the next few months, they will be recognized as “Volunteers of the Week.”

Cure Coming?

For most all professionals that accept that HIV is the cause for AIDS, little hope has existed that a cure would soon be found. After nearly a billion dollars spent and thousands of doctors and scientists working on AIDS research for over 25 years, we have some important medicines and treatments but no cure. We don’t have a vaccine for HIV that is now negatively affecting sexually active youth who do not use condoms.

Over a month ago, a startling headline appeared in the Wall Street Journal: “A Doctor, a Mutation and a Potential Cure for AIDS.” The story tells the story of a man who appears to have been "functionally cured" of AIDS. He is off all anti-HIV meds, has a normal T-cell count, and exhibits no evidence of the virus.

Top AIDS experts are intrigued that something important might be happening. The highly respected foundation “amfAR” of Dr. Mathilde Krim decided that there is a possibility of finding a possible cure at last. Their senior scientific consultant Dr. Jeffrey Laurence has prepared a brief, easy-to-understand summary of the case that you can read by going to:

http://www.amfar.org/cgi-bin/iowa/programs/resrch/record.html?record=71

If this single case can be replicated, it could be the wish come true of every person helping to stop the spread of HIV.
In my travels, I have come across promises of cures for sale on the streets. I have been shown jars filled with jelly-like slime floating in milky looking fluids above a bed of something like rotting seaweed. Unfortunately, desperate people will buy any hope – even a charlatan’s cure.

It is sad to think of all those who will die before the cure is discovered. It is sadder to think about the teens today that will be exposed to the virus and be hurt for years to come.