Can we rise up again?

Even after a year we heard it last, the news about India topping the HIV infection list continuous to send shockwaves. How did this ever happen? So much effort has gone into creating social awareness in the affected regions of the society. So why aren't we still managing to control the epidemic?

Whatever may be the reason, I guess besides hearing all this in the news and checking out the Billy boys and the Brangelinas, we ourselves can do a lot. 5.7 million out of a population of a billion are HIV positive. How many Indians do you think are millionaires? 61,000 according to the World Wealth Report by brokerage firm Merrill Lynch & Co and consultancy CapGemini Group. Even if each of them were worth a million each, that would make then collectively worth 61,000 million. Which is 61 followed by 9 zeros or 61,000,000,000. Forget them- they are busy or already doing a lot. There might be atleast 10 times the number (10 x 61,000= 610,000) who have altleast a dollar to spare per day. The point is- we might have enough resources between us to monetarily take care of the grave situation. The bigger problem is to select a reliable agency to work on the ground and diligently channel the funds and resources.

Again the point is that we have a problem in our hands and it is affecting our own home, our land- do we just sit back and watch. We acted wisely when there was a tsunami, we acted when there were floods, or an earthquake. What can we do now?

And by the way, celebrities are important too because that's how the whole world suddenly turns their attention to the problems? Everytime they visit India, they have done us such a favour by mixing business with charity. Thanks for every good will and good intention that comes our way!

Next, another new and deadly disease spreads ... Look out for 'Contagious fire' in the next article.