Solidarity is Needed in This Moment
A Message From Our Executive Director:
I consider myself decent at answering questions. With seven kids, I've faced a barrage of them from inquisitive toddlers, teenagers, and young adults over the years. I can quickly respond to questions like: "What's for dinner?" or "When will Dad be home?" I can even tackle the tougher ones like: "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?" and "Where do babies come from?" However, the challenging questions posed by my Ugandan sisters last week were not so easily answered.
For the past decade, it has been a true joy to walk alongside our strong, beautiful Crazy Love Africa (CLA) sisters in Uganda. They have imparted invaluable lessons about the strength of women and the incredible power that emerges when women come together in a community. I have witnessed these women transform from merely surviving to truly thriving through the gift of empowerment and hope.
On Saturday, March 22nd, I met with all our sisters at the CLA Community Center in Uganda. We celebrated our graduates, shared a meal, and held our weekly sisterhood meeting. During the meeting, we brainstormed our goals for the year and expressed our excitement for the future. Eventually, one of our sisters raised her hand and asked the question I had been dreading:
“Now that USAID has left Uganda, what will we do when our HIV medications run out?”
I paused and took a deep breath before answering. I anticipated this question and had prepared the best response I could offer at that moment.
#1. I am deeply sorry for the pain the United States new administration has caused you and 21 million people globally who count on USAID funds for their life-saving HIV medications. I am ashamed that our country has allowed this to happen.
#2. Crazy Love Africa and our global community care deeply for each of you and your families. We will not abandon you. We are committed to fighting to ensure you have access to the medications you need to survive. While I may not know how we will achieve this, I can promise that we will not stop fighting for you.
#3. We cannot promise miracles overnight. There may come a time when we run out of medication. I don’t know what the future holds. It’s possible that Uganda could exhaust their supply and we have to go without medication for a period. We might only be able to secure medications for those of you who are already on your third treatment line. Creativity may be necessary in these circumstances.
#4. We all remember what life was like before antiretroviral therapy (ARVs) became available globally, and we do NOT want to go back to those days. My four children lost their mothers to HIV/AIDS. Your children deserve to have you in their lives for a long time.
We sat on the beautiful veranda of our CLA Community Center. Despite the somber atmosphere, I felt a sense of solidarity, and I could see both hope and fear in my sisters' eyes. We were entering a very different phase in our journey. We had dreamed of completing our Community Center and offering exciting new programs to the people we serve. However, we have now found ourselves back in survival mode. It’s difficult to avoid dark thoughts when we confront the reality of life without ARV medications. It's also hard not to feel angry at those responsible for this situation or to believe that this is acceptable.
As Martin Luther King Jr. taught us, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” All of us are aware that epidemics spread. If HIV remains untreated, not only do we bear responsibility, but it is estimated that by 2030, 10 million more people globally will be living with HIV, resulting in 3 million deaths. This has a devastating impact, leading to more children without their mothers. This is not just an Africa issue; it is a global concern. We need each other now more than ever. The economic implications of reinstating USAID are minimal, accounting for less than 1% of U.S. federal spending.
I promised my sisters in Uganda that we are standing united with them. Therefore, I urge all of you reading this message to take action with me.
Here’s what you can do:
1. Contact your congressional representatives. I've found a great website that allows you to write letters, make phone calls, and sign petitions.
2. Donate. Contribute to Crazy Love Africa and any organization that supports communities relying on USAID worldwide.
3. Educate others about this issue. Don’t stay silent. Join groups of individuals who are eager to discuss how we can intervene when medications are no longer available. Believe that the power lies with the people.
Thank you for being a person who believes in the inherent value, dignity, and respect of all human beings.
In Solidarity,
Jess Wiederholt, Executive Director