Comments for OpenForum - a blog by the Health and Human Rights community

Comment on Promoting infant male circumcision to reduce transmission of HIV: A flawed policy for the US by P Hoath

P Hoath — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:40:41 +0000

This is second hand testimony with no corroborating evidence but it does agree with the facts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AfPajxmfbE

Comment on A child’s battle: Diarrheal disease in the developing world by Don

Don — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:12:18 +0000

I believe in the power of Zinc. I sincerely hope we can get it out to the children who need it.

Comment on Democracy Now! interviews Dr. Lyon in Haiti by michaelmfc

michaelmfc — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:14:40 +0000

As we give our money to disaster relief it is important to realize that after the news cameras are gone there will still be a tremendous amount of suffering and misery to deal with. The long term effects of a severe earthquake on a poor nation is more pronounced. The country will have to be rebuilt. They will need infrastructure as well as homes, hospitals and schools. There will be hundreds of thousands who are without shelter and who are forced to live in close quarters in unsanitary conditions which will spread disease. Orphans will need to be taken care of, and there will be severe mental health problems that will linger. All of these issues will need attention and financial assistance even after the celebrities have moved on to the next great cause. The work of helping Haiti will once again be done in obscurity without press coverage. There will be no more outpourings of love and sympathy because the public’s attention will be diverted elsewhere. However, there will still be many dedicated organizations who will stay behind and do the difficult unglamorous work of fighting poverty under the most trying conditions. These are organizations we need to continue to support with donations. By providing them with a steady stream of funds we can allow them to operate at their full capacity. This will enable them to slowly improve the living conditions of the Haitian people. But it takes money…a lot of money, month after month and year after year. Dramatic improvement does not happen overnight. It requires a long-term financial commitment on our part. We must have the resolve and the passion to consistently try to improve the lives of those who are suffering.

Comment on ”A People in Despair: Haiti’s Year Without Mercy” by Jesusita Salim

Jesusita Salim — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 07:51:26 +0000

Personally I don’t think that Mr. Handsome has received enough accolades for his humanitarian efforts. In my opinion a lot of celebrity do-gooders are totally phony and engage in so called good deeds merely for positive publicity. I have to say that I don’t think that George is one of the phonies out there in the world of celbrity do-gooders. I admire what he is doing for the Haitian people. I wish more celebrities were as real as he is when it comes to helping out those less fortunate in the world. So kudos to George and his desire to make this world a better place.

Comment on Democracy Now! interviews Dr. Lyon in Haiti by Leyla Asadi

Leyla Asadi — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:40:47 +0000

Thanks for that great interview! Very powerful and informative.

Comment on Democracy Now! interviews Dr. Lyon in Haiti by Ann Herfindahl

Ann Herfindahl — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:09:53 +0000

As a nurse, I can only appreciate how hard this tradegy is. I have been getting out the word to family and friends to raise money for PIH. I DO NOT find it helpful to hear that the work of the military is not helpful. There are soldiers out in a field since the beginning getting the planes in through their traffic control. There are US Coast Guards who are working on the piers to allow ships in with much needed supplies. Yes, things are difficult, but it is hard to believe that if Dr. Lyon makes it known what his needs are for medical supplies, that they wouldn’t be coming. Is there one person he could designate to get to the airport and not leave until they return with needed supplies. Let’s work together for the people of Haiti. This is not an invasion, this is a humanitarian project.

Comment on Major earthquake devastates Haiti, the Americas’ poorest nation by michael crawley

michael crawley — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:32:58 +0000

NOW the wealthy nations want to help Haiti. If those of us in affluent countries had been more thoughtful and compassionate over the last two decades perhaps the death toll would be far less. If we had made the commitment to help Haiti on a consistent basis maybe their housing would be safer. Possibly their infrastructure would be more secure. Hopefully their ability to respond to such horrific tragedies would be better organized……But we did not help them. We turned away and focused on ourselves. Now they pay a heavy price for our neglect. Will we learn from our mistake? Will we realize that we have a moral responsibility to help those desperately in need on a daily basis and not just when a newsworthy event strikes? When the dust settles over Port Au Prince and the news organizations leave will we forget about Haiti again?

Comment on Innovative low-tech health systems save women’s lives by Meg Wirth

Meg Wirth — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:54:56 +0000

Thanks for this concise post on an incredibly important issue–and the recent conference in Africa on NPCs.

Meg Wirth

Comment on U.N. Drug Policy: The Harm Reduction Debate by Wade

Wade — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:35:51 +0000

I am not a proponent of legalizing drugs, however “Harm Reduction” only makes sense. The US regardless of it admiting it or not is already in effect practicing harm reduction. What are methadone clinics doing except switching people to less harmfull substances? If harm reduction policies can reduce the occurrences of grandmothers being attacked and robbed on the streets, I am all for it. I realize this is a drastic and sensationalized example, but so be it.

Comment on U.N. Drug Policy: The Harm Reduction Debate by RECOVERED ADDICT

RECOVERED ADDICT — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:12:33 +0000

East Vancouver Darkness – Lisa The Harsh Reality of Drug Addiction

Lisa is a resident of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, She has been part of the Harm Reduction experiment taken place for over the last several years. You can see she has tried most of the resources available but life in general is very sad and lonely, Addiction support is no problem but life is very hard.” Harm reduction” or “Terminal Addiction” / “Addiction Till Death” Below are some comments from people who have viewed this video and how they feel about Lisa’s life as It exists today. I would not wish this sadness upon anyone not even my enemy.

http://phatpooch.livejournal.com/41188.html