Thursday, April 18, 2019

The Advocacy Of Bridging The Gap

By Stephen Brown


There are some problems that are stuck in a loop of quandaries and dilemmas because people just dont seem to know how to solve them in a sustainable way. One problem that you can subsume in that category is the AIDS epidemic, and more particularly, the discrimination faced against by its afflicted. Now, however, there is bridging the gap Indianapolis that aims to overturn this classic problem.

What sets BTG from other non governmental organizations with similar advocacies. After all, this isnt exactly new when held up to all other issues you can find under the sun. We have heard celebrities and Miss Universes speak out against discrimination and stigmatization, so whats new.

Among the most prominent organizations in this regard is one that leans towards HIV protection. The human immunodeficiency virus is a blight amongst many societies. However, what stokes the fire of discrimination is the blatant ignorance in its regard. People generally do not know what AIDS entails, let alone how it is different or related to HIV.

One of the greatest aspects of misunderstanding is the means of transmission of the virus. Many things can be misconstrued and stereotyped about it. Some derogatorily refer to it as gay cancer, and we need not point out the offensive overtones in this case. The consequence in being prejudiced against in this regard is that people are not getting the attention and treatment that they need.

Speaking about BGT, they have the noble mission of achieving the reach of HIV and STI prevention in a global level. For the aforementioned key population, they proffer care, treatment, and support. Generally, it is all about bridging gaps. Of course, they also aim to bring awareness, but the point is that they recognize that it isnt the end all. If those afflicted are also more knowledgeable and responsible regarding their disease, it would also contribute much in putting a stopper to the AIDS epidemic.

BTG is a mind dump for many intellectuals who are genuinely interested in proactively transforming the AIDS stigma, a stigma that patients themselves have come to embrace. The BTG influencers brainstorm for strategies, advocacy tools, and best practices that will commonly apply as a form of joint solution to many people the whole world over. They are different in that they provide linkages for key populations so that they know that theyre not alone, and also to provide sustainability and optimization when it comes to treatment.

Another uncommon thing with BTG is that it is not idealistic. They know that world transformation does not take place overnight. Therefore, they zero in their efforts on the community level. Soon, this will become a global advocacy, but realistically speaking, not yet. With a more concentrated effort, they are also able to change more individual lives.

With a prenatal infection, infected needle, and unprotected intercourse with someone who you thought didnt have the virus or was sufficiently protected, then it could have been so easily been you. However, people dont really think along these lines, and they prefer to live and subsist inside their own bubble. This discrimination coupled with negligence is detrimental to the welfare and human rights of those affected, and these are things that should be fought for.

BTG also collaborates with many organization and many other sectors of the civil society. This is all about human rights, after all, which is a common denominator among many orgs and sectors. They are particular in the countries where new infections evince themselves, from Sub Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe. They delve in policy changes, government accountability, global advocacy starting from the bottom up, intervention strategies, and collaboration with in country partners plus regional and global ones.




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