<I>General manager of Pils</I>

Last week, Pils organised a working session on HIV/AIDS aimed at giving information before the Hiv & Aids Preventive Measures Bill comes to Parliament next month. How many MPs and councillors were you able to get together?

We had four MPs, two ministers and fifteen councillors ? all from the government.

Why was that so?

The opposition had clearly stated they would not take part in the workshop for some political reason. But both the MMM and the MSM said they wanted to be trained on the issue. So this week we are holding a session for MMM members. As for the MSM, we have not yet set a date but we are definitely going to have a working session with them.

What was your reaction to the low number of people present and the refusal of the opposition to contribute to this effort?

We must admit we were a bit disappointed because we had thought that they would get over their political problems for such an important issue as HIV/Aids. But it seems we were a bit naïve. We had appealed to them to put their differences aside but there are underlying political agendas that normal people obviously don?t understand. But I guess that the most important thing is that everyone will get the necessary information at the end of the day.

Despite the small audience, were you satisfied with the way the workshop went?

I think those present enjoyed it but I must say it was not extremely lively and fun, which is usually the case. They were a bit ?uptight?; I mean we deal with this problem everyday at Pils and we are still smiling? Still, we feel we reached our objective although, as is usual for such events, there was not enough time. I believe some did not dare to ask the questions they wanted to ask but we made it clear we were still available on 800-5001 whenever they need additional information. But there were some pertinent questions that showed there was a real lack of information and that we were right to organise such an event.

The MSM said it would not take part in the workshop because of the decision of the ministry of Social Security to target the pension of the HIV-positive. What does this mean exactly?

It means that some people affected with the disease cannot rely on automatic financial assistance any more. The pension will be granted on an individual basis. There are two types of financial grants ? basic invalidity and social aid ? and there is a need to distinguish between the two. People who are HIV-positive are not invalids ? they may not have any symptoms for the first eight to ten years ? and there is no reason for them to get the basic invalidity pension. People have to take charge of themselves. The fight is not about slowly dying but about living!

So, Pils agrees with the decision?

We agree in principle. It is only when the disease develops and becomes Aids that people can become invalids and need the grant. It would not be fair that other sick people are deprived of money if they really need it only because of an HIV-positive person. But the main problem is a social one; we have to fight discrimination and money will not help in that fight. The greatest problem is the amount of the grant for any person who is sick and Pils will fight so that everyone?s treatment is improved.