2009 World AIDS Day; Remembering Dan

Very Few People Have Not Been Touched by the Tragedy of AIDS

In 1988 The World Health Organization decided to name December 1st as World AIDS Day. It was a dark time for world in those early days of AIDS. There was such a strong stigma attached to HIV/AIDS that people afflicted with the disease were ostracized by their friends and family, the general public treated them like they had the plague, and even health officials were often far from caring. It was a bleak and sad time that we can never forget as many people suffered and died in a virtual state of shame.

I wish that I could say those dark days are behind us but many still suffer from discrimination for the disease and the death toll still remains quite high even though some progress has been made. According to AVERT (AVERTing HIV and AIDS) in 2008, 2.7 million people were newly infected with HIV in the world. This brings the total to 33.4 million people who currently live with HIV.

UNAIDS has reported that HIV infection has fell 17 percent over eight years worldwide but in parts of Africa the infection rate in men, women, and children still remains staggering. In certain African countries more than one tenth of the population is infected with HIV. It is believed that 22 million people in Africa currently have HIV which will progress to AIDS due to inadaquate medical care available in their country.

Progress has been made. Many people are living longer lives with HIV due to the current prescription drugs that are available. Mother to infant transmission can now be prevented. Education has been working in the world with safer sex practices, blood banks are now safe, and drug users are having more education on needle usage. All of this has helped to lower the spread of HIV.

There is talk of a vaccine on the horizon but no proven vaccine has come to light. There also remains no cure in sight. Further medical research is desperately needed.