December 1, 2007
World AIDS Day 2007
AIDS-related afflictions remain among the leading causes of death globally, killing 2.1 million in 2007. The Honolulu Advertiser
Why is this still happening? We have AIDS education campaigns. We see millions of dollars being poured into medicine, research and educational campaigns. Why does AIDS continue to spread and claim lives? One part of the equation is that we humans are frail creatures. We do things that we know are bad for us. We do things that we know can kill us. I’m still smoking. I hate it that I do, and that I have not been able to quit. The urge to inject drugs and to give in to the impulse to have unprotected sex reflect the same lack of control. All of the prevention campaigns in the world are not going to stop human beings from behaving like human beings. Does that mean that I think all of the efforts being made are useless? A resounding NO! There are a lot of folks who have come of age since the AIDS crisis started who have never had unprotected sex. People with HIV-positive partners are remaining disease-free because they are practicing safe sex. There are actually junkies out there using donated needles and cleaning kits. It’s reasonable to assume that educational programs and AIDS prevention kits have lowered the number of people who would have become HIV-positive without them. But it’s not enough and will never be enough to wipe out AIDS or to prevent new cases from occurring. The only thing that can end AIDS is a cure, and we’re not even close. We can treat the symptoms and delay the onset of the ravages of the disease, but we still can’t cure it. AIDS is still spreading and will continue to spread as long as there is one active case anywhere in the world. Nelson Mandela alluded to this in his speech today at a concert in Johannesburg:
“It is still alarming that for every person who receives treatment there are four others who are newly infected,” said the nobel laureate, after slowly walking to the podium with the aid of his wife and a walking stick.
“Yes, big ambitious plans are needed to deal with the epidemic. But what really matters are small acts of kindness … such as protecting yourself,” he said.
South Africa has the world’s worst rate of HIV, according to recent UN statistics, with around 5.5 million people infected out of a population of 48 million.
It’s an overwhelming situation that can make us feel hopeless if we let it. What can we, as individuals do to combat such a huge problem? I believe that there are things that each of us can and should do.
We can protect ourselves. If you’re reading this post, you know how to not get AIDS, right? Be smart. Just in case you don’t know, my friend Pelf has provided that information.
We can give. Medical research is horrendously expensive. So are the programs that provide care and support to those who are HIV-positive. There are so many good causes that cry out to us each day. We each need to decide for ourselves where our charitable donations will do the most good. I prioritize for organizations that help children, but AIDS-related charities are high on my list. There are hundreds or groups that are combating AIDS and helpings those who are living with AIDS/HIV. I urge you to find one that you believe is doing good work and to support it.
We can act locally. Almost every community has organizations that provide education, pass out condoms and needle-cleaning kits and support those living with HIV/AIDS. They provide everything from food to medical care to companionship. They need bodies to carry out their programs as much as they need money. Do you have some time you can give? Wouldn’t today be a good day to start doing that?
We can urge our leaders to support AIDS/HIV-related research. Money and legislation can move us forward or can be a huge stumbling block. Today UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on world leaders to move mountains:
While “tangible and remarkable” progress has been made in a number of areas, including reducing infections and providing care, Mr. Ban emphasized the need to do more on several fronts.
“It is our crucial mission to ensure that everyone can access HIV prevention, treatment, care and support,” he said, recalling the pledge made by all Governments last year to work towards universal access by 2010.
Let your leaders know that you want your tax dollars to be prioritized to include more money for AIDS/HIV programs. Tell them you want them to support such programs locally, nationally and globally. Remind them that you vote. Their political careers depend on your support. Tell them what you want in exchange for your support at the polls.
Personalize it. There are still people in the world today who think that AIDS cannot and will not touch them or anyone that they know or love. Do you think that you don’t know anyone who has been touched by the AIDS epidemic? If so, you’re wrong. You know me. My bother died of AIDS. I urge all of my blogging friends to read Eddie’s story and to share your own stories. Put faces and names and lives to this terrible epidemic. Don’t let anyone make the mistake of assuming that AIDS only impacts “other people.” WE ARE THOSE OTHER PEOPLE.
Please, please, please support sex education in our schools. I saved this point for last because I know it’s a sticky one that will offend some of my readers. You don’t have to put your children in those classes if that would go against your beliefs, but please don’t block their availability to other children within your community. Don’t confuse your religious beliefs with worldly reality. Every child deserves access to sex education and AIDS prevention programs. Continue to teach morality-based decision making at home and within your religious community. Continue to teach and urge abstinance. Those are good things and I believe that your children will be better off for having been exposed to them. But please, don’t be an ostrich. Acknowledge that your own well-intentioned children are susceptible to temptation, as are their peers. Arm them with prevention education, and encourage your community to make sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention information available through the public school system. It’s the only place that some children will be exposed to it. It’s the right thing to do.
Technorati Tags: AIDS, HIV, World AIDS Day 2007
Posted by skeet @ 3:50 pm • Health & wellbeing, Society & culture
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December 1st, 2007 at 4:03 pm, Matt Says:
Very nice post. I agree with you that sex education needs to be expanded in the U.S.
I’m a teenager that’s currently in High School and it’s needed.
Like you pointed out, Aids effects everyone. It’s easy to forget because its not commonplace in the U.S.
People are dieing that don’t have to because they cannot afford the antiretroviral medication required to keep them alive.
Tank - Staph-infection.org
December 1st, 2007 at 5:33 pm, sweetisu Says:
I had no idea skeet. I’m so sorry about your brother Eddie. I hope a cure will be found sooner than later.
December 1st, 2007 at 8:09 pm, skeet Says:
Mahalo for your kind words, Tank. It’s appalling that education and medical care are still not freely available to everyone, though we have better services here in the US than many people in other countries have.
December 1st, 2007 at 8:12 pm, skeet Says:
Mahalo again, Sweetisu. I want to believe that a cure will be found soon, or at least in our lifetimes.
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:39 am, pelf Says:
I didn’t know about your brother Eddie too, Skeet. So sorry to learn about that.
*hugs*
December 2nd, 2007 at 8:48 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Pelf. I added your very informative post as a reference in mine.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:57 am, Whim Says:
Excellent post!
I have only know one person with AIDS and that was through work. I was a front desk clerk and he and his boyfriend used to stay at the holtel a lot. I often think about him. He was such a sweet person.
I’m sorry about your brother Eddie. I didn’t know about that.
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:08 pm, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Whim. AIDS has had such a terrible impact for so many years now, I really don’t think it’s possible to NOT know someone who has been affected by it.
December 4th, 2007 at 11:22 am, Wi Says:
Sorry to hear about your brother. Someone close to me also died of aids. This was in the mid 80’s when people only just heard about it and nothing could be done for him. These days being hiv positive isn’t a death sentence any more if you can receive the proper medication. Unfortunately this is not the case for a lot of people in this world.