HIV/AIDS has been the one big issue that has proved to be very challenge for the past two decades. People have their own ideas about the virus and how it could be tackled. Capital asked if AIDS would be some hideous phenomenon of the past in the coming ten years. Here are some of the responses that our readers sent to us.

 Do you think that AIDS will be a thing of the past in the coming ten years?

Yes, I believe that if we work hard at trying to prevent the spread of the virus, it will be a thing of the past in 10 years.

But there is a catch. If we don't work hard, meaning that if we don't look for alternative ways of educating the people about the dangers of the virus, AIDS will be a thing that will never leave us Ethiopians.

Sofia

It is hard to say that it would be a thing of the past in 10 years, but I believe that through time and relentless fighting, AIDS will eventually be a thing of the past. Doctors seem to be making a break through and if they are generous with the medicine like they are trying to be with the ARVs, then may be we could have a chance of making the virus history.

Samuel Abate, Student

No, I don't think that AIDS will be a thing of the past in 10 years. I doubt that the methods we use to fight AIDS will change in 10 years time. I really don't know how many of us have to be infected with the virus before a new and effective approach to fighting the virus will be formulated.

But I hope that many years from now, Ethiopia will be able to shake off this virus that seems to be eating at the core of Ethiopia 's productive generation.

Halima Zeinu , 38, Accountant

No way. HIV/AIDS will not be a thing of the past in 10 years, not the way things are going right now. However lame the ways of fighting AIDS have been in the past, I don't even see them anymore these days; it is as if everyone has given up hope or doesn't know what to do anymore.

There are a few conferences here and there, a boring TV show that would actually force people not to listen about the virus and may be a couple of school programs, but there is nothing being done that would in time make the virus a thing of the past in 10 years.

Dawit Melese, 28, Teacher

  I would like to believe so. I have my doubts, but I am an optimist and I hope that this generation, as it keeps growing would understand the very aim of this virus (eating away at people) and stop playing around.

I have lost faith in the bodies that are supposed to fight the spread of HIV, but I can't lose hope on the people. I believe that GOD will come through and we will be rid of this virus so that in a few years, we will be talking about the virus and not worrying about it killing our children and parents.

Samrawit Ferede , 32, Secretary

It seems impossible to make AIDS a thing of the past in just a decade. Not that I don't want it to be, but I don't see anything happening to make me believe so. AIDS will be a thing of the past I hope but not in 10 years.

Araya, 72, Retired

Yes. I think it will be a thing of the past in 10 years. Concerned bodies are doing their best to fight the virus. Awareness is being created and people living with the virus are receiving treatment.

If one were to check statistics and numbers, the prevalence rate of HIV has decreased and the number of people being infected with the virus is also decreasing. So I think that in 10 years, we will register unprecedented progress in the fight against AIDS.

Anonymous