World Aids Day...

Today (December 1st) is World AIDS Day. According to a United Nations report on AIDS,

Despite decreases in the rate of infection in certain countries, the overall number of people living with HIV has continued to increase in all regions of the world except the Caribbean. There were an additional five million new infections in 2005. The number of people living with HIV globally has reached its highest level with an estimated 40.3 million people, up from an estimated 37.5 million in 2003. More than three million people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2005; of these, more than 500,000 were children.

[T]he steepest increases in HIV infections have occurred in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (25% increase to 1.6 million) and East Asia. But sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the most affected globally– with 64% of new infections occurring here (over three million people).

You can also make a difference through the (Red)emption campaign to raise funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation for AIDS relief in Africa. Here is a message from Stephen Lewis:

We’ve come to another World AIDS Day, and for the first time it’s possible to say that the pandemic is finally being confronted in Africa. And that’s quite wonderful.

But the attempt to subdue the pandemic is, predictably and appropriately, focused on treatment. This still leaves a vast and continuing human toll: grandmothers desperate for food; orphans desperate to go to school; infected women desperate for the nutritional supplements that will allow the drugs to work on ravaged bodies.

And that’s where the Foundation comes in. We remain single-mindedly focused on the grassroots; on helping at community level where people live and die.

That’s why we so urgently ask for your continued support, and thank you for all that you have done.

Ten Dollars to the (Red)emption campaign is a great way to get involved. For more information, go here and here.

Comments

[Trailady]

Thank you for this thoughtful post on Aids. Many of us have the idea that unless it's something that affects us on a daily basis, it's not a good cause. We are all connected in this life and the scourge in Africa has a chain reaction that goes around the world. May God ease their suffering and bless those on earth who do just that.

[ron]

" We are all connected in this life and the scourge in Africa has a chain reaction that goes around the world ". So, so much truth in that thought...that it should shake us to our senses. We in the west have the ability to start a chain reaction of scandalous love and sacrifice...that could completely change the climate of hopeless in Africa to a future of hope. Every little bit has an impact. Thanks Trailady, for dropping by and adding to the conversation.