The Good Old Days

This is fantastic news...Oh wow!!...Long at last. These were some of the expressions I heard from people when news about a successful HIV vaccine first came to light.

A week later, the mood has completely changed as more and more experts have spoken out on the reality of the said research. We now know that what has really been achieved is progress in the sense that results of all previous efforts have not been that encouraging.

We also know that the strain of virus which has registered this success is not the one commonly found in sub-saharan africa (which by the way is the most virulent of all the strains). This clarification has really brought the issue into it's proper perspective.

What was really exciting for me was not necessarily the fact that a cure/vaccine is on the horizon, but the cause for celebration. Most people on the streets were not really thinking about the salvation of mankind or any such high sounding morals. What got people excited was this whole idea of going back to the good old days...you know, the one's we only hear about in folk tales.

Ana inu mwabadwa nthawi yolakwika...matenda amasiku anowa akupwetekani, ife nthawi yathu zimenezi kunalibe timangodandaula za mabomu, chindoko...ndipo tikapita kuchipatala timachila (literally meaning; in the good old days we never worried about HIV, we would contract gonorrhea and syphilis and easily get treated)

This is what this excitement was really all about. As it stands now, it is clear that nothing has changed and we all need to remain vigilant to ensure that we protect ourselves and out loved ones from this pandemic...

Later....