Frankincense And Myrrh

Frankincense is the luban we use here in Libya as incense and some times chew as gum . Read all about it uses , including as a treatment for the type of brain tumor that Ted Kennedy had ."Boswellic acid in vitro antiproliferative effects on various tumor cell lines (such as melanoma, glioblastomas, liver cancer) are based on induction of apoptosis. A positive effect has been found in the use of incense on the accompanying specimens of brain tumors, although in smaller clinical trials."
It also was used to make kohl eyeliner , used as a treatment for digestive disorders, nerves ,arthritis,and repels mosquitoes when burned.

It was one of the 3 gifts from the Maggi to the new born Jesus. It has been used for centuries to anoint kings and  to mark religious mile stones. To discover more about Frankincense, go here .

Myrrh is used as a medicine and as a incense like Frankincense . It to was one of the gifts from the Maggi to the new born baby Jesus . 

At one time it was valued by it's weight in gold , so great a item it was deemed . It was used as a anointment for sprains , as a antiseptic ,a embalming ointment , an ingredient for perfumes, and to anoint kings and religious leaders. It is also used to lower blood glucose. And can be used as a analgesic. For more on Myrrh , go here .

Help 4 HIV/AIDS IN LIBYA NOW ?

Five years after our youngest son died of Aids complications , you would hope that Libya would have a  PLAN to treat , educate , council the Libyan people through a public program on HIV/AIDS . As far as I know there isn't one in place . At least I haven't seen it or heard about it up to now .Of course that doesn't mean there isn't one , so I went looking.  I was curious to see if things had changed in the past 5 years for Libyans, concerning any sort of program  available . I googled Libya and AIDS and this is what I got :
There was this

PlusNews
Global HIV/AIDS news and analysis



I looked this one up too:

UCSF HIVInSite 
WHO Issues New HIV/AIDS Treatment Guidelines - Monday, November 30, 2009
 ( which I don't think is being done here in Libya ? Dose anyone have information ?)


Then I found this article that partners Libya up with the  Delegation of the European Commission to Libya.  :
Between 2009 and 2010, The International Health Group of LSTM in partnership with Libyan institutions and Harvard University's Biostatistics Department (HUBD), will produce updated and comprehensive information on the current epidemiology of HIV infection in the country in order to produce an effective national HIV strategy.


I also found this :

Programme of supplementary measures to support

the EU HIV Action Plan for Benghazi

in Libya (Phase 4)

  

Project funded by the European Union and implemented by the Belgian Red Cross

At first I thought it was only for the children in Benghazi but when I read farther down the page I learned it was a program being put into place for al of Libya . Listed below is the agenda for this program.

The BAP includes the following components :

• Upgrading BCIDI laboratory up to an international quality level and become a national reference center.
• Upgrading the level of treatment in Benghazi and Libya to international standards.
• Strengthening the Management Information System for HIV/AIDS treatment.
• Strengthening blood safety procedures.
• Development of community awareness, prevention of stigma, compliance, and counselling to children and families. 
  

There must be  programs that I haven't heard of in place already , at least I hope so . Progress is slow and I can't help but wonder how many other family's must lose loved ones for lack of information and help from the public health sector and government . If you have any information , other than what is listed here , please share it here  with us , so maybe some one in need will know there is help out there for them . OTE
painting by L.C.Neal