By Tom Scalway, skipper of Whisky Mac

I have been working in HIV for 11 years. In that time tens of millions of people have died from AIDS. My area of expertise has been on HIV Communication. Those working in this area would agree with me that it is a mess. Different agencies compete for funding, there is little collaboration, even less coordination, and the result is that people at national level hear a range of often contradictory and confusing information about AIDS. Is it true condoms spread HIV? Does having sex with a virgin help? Is my only choice to avoid sex altogether? It is amazing how many myths are now circulating. National AIDS Programmes often lack the tools and capacity to use communication effectively. Meanwhile the majority of people in the most affected countries do not even have the basic information they need to protect themselves from HIV.

None of this is rocket science. The knowledge and skills to use communication for prevention have existed for years. It is much simpler than the prevention solutions that currently seem to catch the imagination of donors and policymakers, like rolling out circumcision, developing vaccines, microbicides and other clinical solutions (though these are all crucially important). Disseminating information, and encouraging dialogue and debate is relatively straightforward. And while there are a significant institutional and cultural challenges to good HIV communication, we should be doing it a lot better than we are.

So Im going to paint a red-ribbon on my boat and sail it to the arctic - half as a desperate attempt to make a statement about the importance of HIV communication and to raise money for AIDS, and half to take time out to reflect on the global response to HIV - "the AIDS industry" as many of my colleagues now call it. We will be sending out media releases, and trying to publicise this cause, but please help by circulating information about this trip and the HIV prevention issues it underlines.

Supporting home based care For the 33 million people now living with HIV, prevention has failed. While trying to ensure fewer are infected in the future, the money raised will be spent caring for those people now living with HIV. Most people in Southern Africa can not access HIV treatment. These people will develop AIDS related illnesses, as their immune systems gradually weaken. Depending on nutrition and standards of care, this process can take varying amounts of time. But without treatment, death is inevitable. Home based care, often performed by volunteers, unrecognised heroes (usually women), brings relief to those with AIDS. Patients may be cleaned, fed, given medication, given support and their families given advice and encouragement. The money this trip raises will go directly to home based care, working with existing community projects, buying basic blankets, food and helping famililes deal with funeral expenses, a concern that too often creates intense anxiety in the final phases of AIDS.

 

It started with a kayak About 15 years ago John and I were sent a beautiful sea kayak from John's uncle in Canada. We were both students at the time, and decided to go kayaking in the Scottish sea lochs over the Christmas break. Through snow, sleet and ice, we had a comic, intense and inspiring holiday. Since that time, we have been kayaking most years, although our work in different parts of the world increasingly makes that difficult.

 

The idea of going to Norway came about 10 years ago, but it was impossible for us to fit it into our lives. In 2004, Tom bought a sailing boat, Whisky Mac, living on her for a while to defray costs. Now, its time to take for Whisky Mac to do something useful.

AIDS is one of the greatest challenges of our time. 33 million people are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. 2.5 million people were infected with HIV last year alone. Judging by current performance, less than half of them will be able to access treatment. In 2007, 2.1 million people died from AIDS, often in acute poverty, and often stigmatised by their community.
  • Less than half of young people in the worlds most affected countries know how to prevent AIDS.
  • Countries rarely have coherent plans for informing populations about AIDS, changing behaviour, and for empowering people to speak out on HIV
  • International agencies are competing for funds, not collaborating andso failing those they should serve.
  • Much of the money coming into the AIDS response gets absorbed by organisations and bureaucracies, rather than reaching communities.
  • National and international leaders remain unaccountable to their commitments on AIDS.
    • There is a bright side. Sustained efforts world wide have made HIV treatments available and affordable in an increasing number of countries. In some countries, there is a decline in numbers of new infections, as prevention efforts, treatment (which makes people less infectious) and other initiatives take hold. And the most inspiring, and certainly the most effective part of the AIDS response is taking place in communities. At churches, in sports, in the workplace, on the streets, and particularly inside peoples homes, the problem of AIDS is being faced with courage, humour and compassion. AIDS is creating untold pain and sorrow, but the human response to it can be an inspiration..