World AIDS Day 2008: We Can Stop HIV/AIDS

Today is December 1, 2008, the 20^th anniversary of World AIDS Day (WAD). This is the day selected to bring attention to HIV/AIDS worldwide.

Many events will be held today around the world. Statistics will be shared and names and faces of those infected or fighting for those impacted directly by HIV/AIDS will be spotlighted today.

Prayerfully, young people will read something today or hear something today that will move them to choose life when it comes to sexually dangerous and irresponsible situations. Prayerfully adults, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual and any other category, will choose life also.

Then there are the people who become infected by contaminated blood through transfusions and infected mothers who infect their babies through breastfeeding. They are truly innocent victims.

It’s estimated that 33 million people around the world are living with AIDS. That means that AIDS is not an automatic death sentence anymore. Survival rates have improved tremendously over the last twenty years but the rate of infection is on the rise in many countries around the world.

With the proper medical care and attention, those infected live productive lives. Those infected still live with the stigma and sometimes discrimination once their status is made public. That emotional assault upon their psyche can be more devastating than the physical effects of the infection itself.

In my humble opinion, there is not enough discussion about HIV/AIDS. The more educated we are about HIV/AIDS, the more we can help stop it from spreading. So, as we commemorate 20 years of WAD, let’s pledge to be more vigilant about helping in the fight against HIV/AIDS during the other days of the year.

Lead – Empower – Deliver. We can stop HIV/AIDS.

 

© 2008, Vanessa: Unplugged!, www.vanessabyers.net

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Comments

[Yobachi]

"there is not enough discussion about HIV/AIDS"

I definitely concur. People act like AIDS is over, or that living with AIDS, since now you don't die immediately; some how makes it obselete. It's still in most cases a fatal diseas; and certainly one that can reruin relationship opportunities and be passed on to off spring.

[linda]

vanessa, stop by Ageless Hippie Chick and read about my friend who is going to Rwanda to teach yoga to women who contracted AIDS via genocidal rape. story is at the top of the sidebar....she could use some donations....thanks!

[Vanessa]

Yobachi: Thanks for spearheading the day of blogging. I'm going to blog about it each month; we can't allow this to be spotlighted only once per year.

[Vanessa]

Linda: I'll definitely check out your site. I know how you roll; this is going to lead to a blog post by me. The rape of women in Africa is not talked about enough either.