The Give a Day Campaign at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

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Sean Murtha, Associate at BLG writes…On November 26, 2012 Dr. Adrienne Chan of Dignitas International spoke at the Toronto office of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (“BLG”).  Dr. Chan has spent much of the past 5 years working at an HIV/AIDS clinic in Malawi, and she spoke at length about the tangible effects that donations made during the Give a Day campaign have in saving lives throughout Africa.

Dr. Chan highlighted the progress that has been made through the use of anti-retroviral treatments in sub-Saharan Africa.  She spoke glowingly about the essential role that Malawian health-care providers play in the struggle against HIV/AIDS, and relayed heartfelt stories and pictures from her time working on the ground in Malawi.

The presentation also included a video in which a Grandmother supported by the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmother’s Campaign personally thanked BLG lawyers and staff for its continued strong support.  As we all know, African Grandmothers are central to the life of their communities, as they have stepped into the breach to care for millions orphaned by AIDS.  This personalized message was very warmly received by all who heard it!

Following her talk, Dr. Chan stayed behind to answer questions from audience members. Her presentation was the perfect way to kick off the final fundraising push at BLG, leading up to World AIDS Day.

Give a Night 2012 – Students Show Commitment to Justice and Health for All

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On Thursday, November 29, the fifth annual Give a Night was held at Cube Nightclub in Toronto. Organized each year by articling students  to show their support for the Give a Day legal campaign, Give a Night brings together students from many Bay Street firms who work collectively to plan and execute the evening.

Tickets for this year’s event  sold out more than a week prior and over $23,000 was raised for the two excellent Canadian recipient organizations – Dignitas International and the Stephen Lewis Foundation, each with its own focus and excellent record of success in responding to HIV. We salute the students for the strong message they have given about their commitment to justice and good health for all, and thank them for their tremendous efforts.

For more details and photos please see this article by Chioma Ume in Precedent Magazine.

Facing AIDS on World AIDS Day

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Facing AIDS

I'm facing AIDS by studying Public Health!

Dr. Winnie Siu writes…I am marking World AIDS Day in London, UK this year where I’m undertaking a master’s program at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

An American classmate took this picture of me yesterday. Inspired by a campaign in the U.S., she encouraged me to complete the phrase “Facing AIDS” by turning it into a personalized sentence. The idea was to post the picture in a social media forum in order to reduce stigma against HIV. I don’t have Facebook or Twitter, so I’m posting it here.

I spent this past May working as a family medicine resident physician on the paediatrics ward of a hospital in rural Malawi. It was my first time returning to sub-Saharan Africa since a deeply moving journey to Zambia in 2008. And though I was not specifically working in the area of HIV, it still permeated everything I did and thought about; it was the explicit and implicit cause and result of so many other medical, social, political, structural, economic, ethical and equity issues.

One of the biggest reasons why, after completing my residency in family medicine, I am back in school this year studying public health is because I realized that I am woefully unequipped to disentangle these complexities. Therefore, I am facing AIDS in a classroom this year, through textbooks and lectures and impassioned discussions with my diverse classmates, some of whom come from areas where they face the reality of AIDS every day.

At times the classroom learning seems so distant and too theoretical, and I itch to get back on the field. I long to face AIDS by working and being face-to-face with those affected by AIDS. But, dreams take work and patience too. So, I read and listen, question and analyze, debate and learn. And I do this hoping that I can one day face AIDS equipped with the knowledge and skills to offer practical, positive change.

This guest post is contributed by Dr. Winnie Siu.  She is a Canadian physician currently working on a Masters program at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

I won’t give up!

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Two years ago in my World AIDS Day message, I talked about K’naan and how I wanted to write a rap song about HIV. This year, I’ve picked a song from a different artist that expresses my sentiments about the ongoing challenge of the HIV pandemic. It’s a song by the brilliant Jason Mraz and the theme is this… I Won’t Give Up!

Caring about the issue of HIV can be discouraging at times. This has been a particularly emotional week. Each year, around this time, UNAIDS releases a World AIDS Day update. As you read the report, you could end up feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of this pandemic that continues to wreak havoc for individuals, families and communities across the globe. Despite the daunting statistics and the personal tragedies that I have witnessed, I remain an obstinate optimist – using the report to look for the signs of positive progress. I note for instance that new HIV infections in children are 43% lower than in 2003, before the Give a Day movement had started. This news brings tangible evidence that the elimination of new infections in children is possible.

But this week carried with it some unique emotional low points. Just as we celebrate that 8 million people in the world now have access to anti-retroviral therapy, we realize equal numbers of people – who need those medications right now to stay alive – don’t have access. And Canadians have reason to feel particularly disheartened this week because the initiative to fix Canada’s flawed regime for sending low-priced generic medicines to less-resourced countries was defeated in the House of Commons. We walked away from an extraordinary opportunity to help save lives.

…which brings me to the Jason Mraz song that speaks to the need to persevere, saying…

“I won’t give up

I don’t wanna be someone who walks away so easily,

I’m here to stay and make the difference that I can make

Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use the tools and gifts we got, yeah, we got a lot at stake”

Indeed when it comes to the HIV pandemic, there is a lot at stake. In 2012, no one should live or die with AIDS. The need to act is as urgent as it has ever been in the 30 years since this pandemic was described. We cannot give up. We cannot walk away so easily. We must respond somehow.

That’s why I’m proud to remind you about Give a Day. It is a movement of ordinary Canadians who recognize World AIDS Day each year and they respond in a practical way. These concerned global citizens give one day’s pay to organizations that put those resources to good use in the communities most affected by HIV. To date, Give a Day has raised over $3.5 million for the two recipients that we recommend: the Stephen Lewis Foundation and Dignitas International.

Please join me in expressing your commitment to the people and places most affected by HIV. On December 1, World AIDS Day, please Give a Day. In the words of Jason Mraz…

I won’t give up.

“Remarkable Transformations” by Dr. Lorna Adams

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"I am HIV POSITIVE and I am on treatment"

Dr. Lorna Adams writes…Very soon it will be December 1, World Aids Day.  A time to once again think about the pandemic in Africa, the management of it and the devastation of it.  We can think about the ways that we in this amazing country of Canada can help those that are working to support people living with HIV/AIDS, to decrease the new infection rate and to treat adults and children already infected.

I have worked with both organizations that Give a Day supports, both directly in Malawi with Dignitas International, and indirectly with the Stephen Lewis Foundation.  I have seen the remarkable transformation that occurs when people are able to be treated with the appropriate medications, and when grandmothers are assisted in raising their grandchildren who have been orphaned by the illness of their parents. I have seen when people are able to overcome the stigma of an AIDS diagnosis, and go out in public to openly assist those currently trapped with the shame and stigma of the diagnosis.

I met this woman on a bus in Zimbabwe, a country thoroughly traumatized by an ineffectual government, and the AIDS pandemic.  The stigma of the disease is reinforced by the limited access to effective treatment.  Once people are on treatment, have put on some weight, have returned to work, and have regained a sense of dignity and control of their lives, they are much more comfortable letting others know of their diagnosis, and encouraging others to come forward to be tested and treated.  I asked her if I could take her picture, and use it to assist in raising awareness and funds to fight the pandemic.  I told her that it meant that this picture would be public, for all to see.  She looked at me, and smiled, and said, “I am already advertising my HIV positive status with my shirt, Madam”.  Yes, I said, and thank you.

Please, consider the amazing change that your donation of just one day’s pay could effect for so many of those affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

This guest post is contributed by Dr. Lorna Adams. She is a physician currently working at Southlake Regional Health Centre and a volunteer with Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres/MSF).  She recently returned from working with MSF in South Sudan.

The Give a Day Campaign at Thomson, Rogers

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Saturday, December 1 marks World AIDS Day 2012. While the Give a Day campaign was born in the medical community and continues to see generous support there, it soon expanded beyond hospital walls. In the coming days, the legal community in Canada are rolling out the Give a Day campaigns that they have been hard at work planning for months.  Many firms will be hosting speaker events designed to educate about the AIDS pandemic in Africa, and to illustrate just how important support from individuals within the firms has been to the excellent work done by the Stephen Lewis Foundation and Dignitas International.

One such firm is Thomson, Rogers – one of our dedicated, sponsoring firms.  While organizers continue to encourage members of the firm to consider giving a day’s pay, many fun events are also planned for this week, including a silent auction and bake sale, a “guess the baby photo” game and a special jeans day.  All proceeds from these activities will go to Dignitas International and the Stephen Lewis Foundation, along with the donations given by individuals at the firm.

As always, the hard work, ingenuity and passion that the legal community bring to this campaign inspire us all. We are proud to partner with them as we work towards a world without AIDS.

“HIV: How I see it” by Dr. Yelshaday Teklu

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I’ve been hearing about HIV as long as I can remember. Back then, my mindset towards HIV was sublimely unapologetic. The media and people around me demonized it so very much that I was scared to even think about it for a moment. Whatever was told, the reality was much different. Sometimes, I wonder how deceitful it is to listen to one side of a story and not be able to verify but make hasty conclusions.

Ethiopia is one of the countries in the world with a staggering number of HIV-positive people. The number of children who have lost their parents to HIV is also just below a million. HIV has cast its psychosocial and economical burdens for over two decades now. Thanks to a massive awareness campaign and various interventions carried out by the government and NGOs, the statistics are now falling. The stigma and discrimination practiced against HIV-positive citizens has affected the lives of these individuals greatly. Myths about the transmission of HIV and what it does to the body were so widespread and the public was influenced by these myths so much that HIV-positive people were having a hard time adjusting themselves and would suffer a wide range of problems.

Now the public has come to understand that people living with HIV can pretty much lead normal lives if they properly adhere to their medications and practice healthy lifestyles. Despite ongoing efforts, there are still wrong attitudes among some individuals. It is also usual nowadays to see a great number of HIV-positive people speak out and share their experiences. So, this means they have the belief they won’t be alienated by society anymore.

Addis, the capital city where I live, has the most overwhelming numbers of HIV-positive people as compared to the rest of the country. It has a population of about 5 million and every day one million people go in and out of the city. This is actually one of the factors that greatly contributed to the growing HIV epidemic in Addis. Recently though, it has been reported that only 5 out of 100 individuals are infected with the virus while this statistic was about 9 out of 100 not long ago. People are now realizing how serious this is and have started to avoid the risk behaviors that lead to contracting HIV. Equally important is the fact that the public has positively altered its outlook towards HIV-positive people. The “us versus them” attitude is no longer something that I see in my everyday life nor is it something I hear people say.

As someone who is in the medical environment, I have more expert knowledge on HIV from both a public health and a biologic perspective than the average person. I am fortunate enough to closely listen to what HIV-positive people have to say. As doctors, we are not only expected to treat the physical illness but the psychosocial malfunction associated with it. I couldn’t help but understand the pain they suffer as they walk me through their day to day lives. This has greatly helped me understand HIV. My mainstream perception about them is also derived from mass media awareness programs. I especially owe this to a radio program that is aired thrice a week called “Yibekal” literally translated as “It’s enough!” The way the program is put together is what endowed it with the power to change attitudes.

I volunteer in the public health activities of Ethiopian Medical Students’ Association (EMSA). I know the power of changing how people think about a particular situation and the importance of prevention as much as treatment. It has always been said that when we change the way we look at something, it changes. We’re all products of our mindsets. Therefore, the power of awareness-creation can never be underestimated. HIV is not something poor nations can fight only by themselves. When we celebrate this year’s World AIDS Day, we have to keep in mind that the role each of us plays counts and we have to renew our promises to contribute our shares throughout our lives. The HIV pandemic has taken its tolls for the past 30 years and has inflicted more damage in the developing nations than on anyone. I hope December 1 will be the day we vow to fight HIV together as one because this is the only way we can eradicate it from the face of the earth.

This guest post is contributed by Dr. Yelshaday Teklu. He is a General Intern at the Addis Ababa University, School of Medicine. Dr. Yelshaday is SCOPH Publications Head at the Ethiopian Medical Students’ Association and he is SCOPH African Regional Assistant for the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yelshman.

 

Global Response to HIV at a Crossroads

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Dr. Tim O’Shea, Give a Day supporter writes…Now that the days are shorter and the air has chilled, thoughts turn towards this year’s Give a Day campaign.  This year on World AIDS Day, December 1, the call will come once again to donate one day’s wages to an organization engaged in the struggle against HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.  The Give a Day campaign is now in its seventh year, with over $3.5 million raised through grassroots efforts.  In any effort that spans such a time period, it is important to periodically reflect on whether continued engagement is required.  As I write this post, on my way home from a brief visit to Uganda, I am once again reminded of why it is so important that the momentum of efforts like Give a Day are maintained.

Each time I visit Uganda I see signs of clear progress; improved infrastructure, increased safety and security, and a growing sense of engagement within the community.  In the hospitals in which I teach, capacity has increased, and a new, energetic and ambitious generation of young faculty have risen to positions of power, bringing with them fresh ideas on how to scale the problems of the health care system.  There is reason for hope as well in the fight against HIV/AIDS; new and sophisticated treatment and prevention strategies have been developed which have allowed some in Africa to dream of an “AIDS free generation”.  However, nearly thirty years into the epidemic, it is important not to lose sight of the fact that HIV/AIDS remains the single greatest hurdle to meaningful development in much of sub-Saharan Africa.  And at the individual level, nearly two million people continue to die each year, each one a mother, father, sister, brother.  The loss of potential is staggering, and the despair that is left behind is difficult to witness.

So where does that leave campaigns like Give a Day, when the global response to HIV/AIDS is at a seeming crossroads between hope and optimism on one side, and loss and anguish on the other?  Whatever the answer may be, one thing is certain; complacency is not an option.  Faced with the realization that it is entirely plausible that we have the tools available to stop this epidemic in its tracks, we should be talking about re-doubling our efforts, not scaling back.  Each death, each new infection is an indictment of our global values and priorities.   So when that call to “Give a Day” comes this year, let’s make a statement.  Our job doesn’t end when we sign our name to that cheque.  Let’s make sure that our colleagues, friends, family, neighbours do the same.  It is the least we can do.

Osler LLP Launches 2012 Give a Day Campaign

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Susan Elliott of Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP writes…As is our tradition on this date each year, led by Osler partner Michael Fekete we kicked off our Give a Day campaign with a lunch time event and inspiring speeches by Dr. Michael Schull, Chair of the Board of Directors of Dignitas International and Leah Teklemariam, Director of Programmes, The Stephen Lewis Foundation. Both gave personal accounts of people they have met along the way who have been helped by their work and our support.

Michael Fekete welcomes the group
In the next few weeks our offices will be percolating with contests like, Decorate Your Workspace, silent auctions, events and lots more. I continue to be amazed by what Dignitas International has done in the field and the work done at the grassroots that is supported by the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Give a Night 2012 – Thursday, November 29

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The Give a Night campaign began in 2007 as a way for Toronto articling students to join with the wider legal community in their support of the Give a Day to World AIDS campaign.  Over the years the event has grown, and in 2011 over 550 young professionals gathered in Toronto for an evening of raising awareness and funds to support the two great Canadian recipient organizations recommended by Give a Day – the Stephen Lewis Foundation and Dignitas International.

Give a Night 2012 will take place on Thursday, November 29 at 8pm at Cube Night Club. Tickets are now on sale for this fun-filled evening, which promises to be a great way to party with a purpose!