Prof Martin Markowitz in his office at the  Aaron Diamonds AIDS Research Centre, New York City.   Prof. Markowitz says for the drugs to become affordable even to the poorest of Kenyans, the matter should be handled globally by both the private and public sectors.

Prof. Markowitz visiting the Kenya Network of Women with Aids based in the sprawling Mathare slums, accompanied by the networks leader, Ms Asunta Wangura, herself infected with HIV. Mathare is one of the most economically deprived and HIV/AIDS affected areas in the country. KAWI coordinates activities with such organizations to bring a ray of hope to the poor populations.

THE world-famous HIV/AIDS expert, Professor Martin Markowitz of Aaron Diamond HIV/AIDS Center of New York and Rockefeller University, was in Kenya on a fact finding mission coordinated jointly between Kenya Aids Watch Institute (KAWI) and the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline Kenya. His was a brief but intense effort to familiarize himself with the devastation that HIV/AIDS has caused in Kenya.

 The co-discoverer of HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy) popularly known as triple therapy, or simply as the "cocktail", visited a number of hospitals within the country and gave a series of talks on the current status of the therapy (HAART) in Nairobi as well as in Mombasa and Eldoret.

Additionally, he met with a wide spectrum of Kenyans including government officials, heads of various NGOs, our local scientists, HIV/AIDS victims as well as ordinary Kenyan citizens. He was particularly moved by the HIV/AIDS patients he met along his tour empathically stating "They remind me of the crisis that we faced in New York City back in the 80s…..fear, helplessness, hopelessness, stigmatization…Such experience is now rare in New York City and the US. I am optimistic that Kenyans will turn things around as well. We cannot give up".

During his last press conference at the KAWI headquarters, he further remarked: "Kenyans cannot and must not despair. If we all work together dedicatedly and persistently, submerging our egos and not protecting turf, we can effectively curb this menace. Science has made spectacular progress against this disease and with international support we can control the situation through prevention and treatment".

The scientist further pointed out that unlike in the past where HIV/AIDS patients had no choice but to take scores of tablets many times a day, his Aaron Diamond AIDS Center of New York City is now experimenting with a single tablet dosage that also reduces the problem of toxicity! 

As he has done throughout his tour, Dr. Markowitz highly commends President Moi for having declared HIV/AIDS a National Disaster, calling it an act of courage and vision. He compared our crisis to a state of war, a war against annihilation, calling for the international community to intensify its effort in assisting.

Professor Markowitz thanked the press for its demonstrated support and all those Kenyans who enthusiastically welcomed and supported him. He quipped that he felt like an "honorary Kenyan", and that he was proud to be an "an adopted Kenyan".

Professor Markowitz regretted that he was unable to see our rich wildlife because of shortage of time stating: "I most certainly would have loved to go on your famous safaris. However, the AIDS problem was paramount in my mind but hopefully during my next visit, I shall visit one of your game reserves".

The scientist promised to return to Kenya "sooner than you think" armed with a concrete proposal on how to assist Kenyans fight this scourge. When pressed to spell out the proposal, he reiterated that he had come to Kenya primarily to learn but once back in the US, he shall assemble his friends and expect to come up with a plan of action very soon. He further disclosed in the interview that he believed that the best strategy to assist Kenyans is to come up with a concrete plan in areas of treatment and/or prevention which "helps Kenyans help Kenyans".

Prof. Markowitz has also written a paper entitled “The Other War”, which seeks to awaken the attention of the Western World to the fact that HIV/AIDS is the world’s most immediate problem, with its impact being felt fully by developing nations. View the statement here>>>