On Dec 1st 2013, Mbarara town was coloured white and red; school uniforms, banners, red ribbons and T- shirts are all telling us how we are getting to Zero HIV new infections. They were the World AIDS Day National celebrations! These celebrations were held at the Bible Institute grounds in Nyamityobora ward, an area that has HIV prevalence of 13% – the highest in Mbarara district. The function was held at the grounds to target residents of the ward. Businesses were going on normally in the trading centre, with young men crowding pool tables, boys peeping through video halls, and small retail shopkeepers, salons and bar attendants appearing as though they were unaware of what was going on. Women vending tomatoes, onions and charcoal by the road side were in a similar state and as for the boda boda guys, it is a big money making day since they are not allowed to park their motor bikes at the grounds. All they do is transport people in and out. Guess who we ushered in at the grounds? A couple of schools’ representatives invited for the occasion, close to 30 members of parliament, implementing partners, the Uganda army and other dignitaries filled the VIP tent. The day was colourful with people at the grounds enjoying the music. As the norm, Philly Lutaya’s song “Alone and Frightened” dominated. Encouraging speeches were conveyed while the young men and women of Nyamityobora ward, who were the target group, happened to be in their usual place, performing their routines, missing out on the celebration because we wanted to feel comfortable. Who are we targeting while we look for the comfort? The members of parliament, the guests of honor, are crying out to the youth of that small town, “Please protect yourselves, get tested for HIV–you see we are at 13%”. The chairman of that area also announced how it had been discovered that abuse of drugs and alcohol in this area had also contributed to HIV prevalence and he called upon the residents to change. The people being called upon were not there. They are in the trading centre, surrounding pool tables and video halls, but not at the Bible Institute! They have missed the message, the testimonies, the drama and “edutainment”. They are doing their usual business and where are we? Under the tent, away from the dust and scorching sun. When will we ever get out to them, or are we assuming that someone else is doing it? Are we making any difference if we still want these young people to come to us. Will they come or do we need to reach out to them? Will we be denying them their responsibility if we get to them? How I wish they were the ones fighting to be in the VIP tents just like the well dressed men and women that I ushered in. How I wish they were the ones fighting to sit near the state Minister of Health, the UN officials and other VIPs to take part and listen to the educational and encouraging messages. They are in the same world where they are being called out because of their absence! Who are we targeting? If we believe that the people we intend our programmes to target may be left out, then why the comfort and protocol? Are we making any difference?
This takes me back to the fact that we have termed some places as “hard to reach.’’ Hard to reach – for who? Could it be that since we are waiting for USAID or UN land cruisers to get us to those areas, we are now too blind to figure out the available resources in our own communities that can help us get to those people who are “hard to reach” because of where they live?
If we are still looking for the fresh air, the beautiful scenery, and convenience for the VIPs, then we shall continue to preach to ourselves.