No Day But Today

Stephanie Kunz

Photo by John Rawlinson

People with AIDS live every day battling their disease. From getting the proper medication to facing the stigmas some associate with the disease, their daily lives are no walk in the park. On this day, the 21st Annual World AIDS Day, uninfected and infected citizens alike in this nation and others focus their attention to the progress that can made on scales of all sizes.

Today, South African President Jacob Zuma announced that their nation, with financial aid of the US, will offer free treatment to HIV positive infants as well as expand their testing program and treatments for patients infected with HIV. In the past South Africa has encouraged garlic treatments instead of the more expensive and reliable AIDS treatments which may have led to as many as 300,000 deaths and has likely contributed to a staggering amount (5.7 million cases out of 10 million) of South Africa’s citizens living with AIDS. To support this mission the US has pledged $120 million to the program.

While this news is exciting, the question remains, “What can I do to help eliminate the world AIDS crisis?”. Luckily, the answers are simple and should cost significantly less than $120 million if anything. The National AIDS Trust out of Britain has created a list of 5 simple things you can do to Respect and Protect in order to fight AIDS.

1. Find out the facts about HIV and talk to your friends, family and colleagues about HIV – make sure they know the reality, not the myths.
2. Know your HIV status: get tested if you have put yourself at risk
3. Talk to all new sexual partners about using condoms. Using a condom during sex (especially vaginal or anal sex) is the best way to protect yourself and your partner from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
4. If someone tells you they are HIV positive, treat them with respect and don’t tell others without their agreement.
5. Wear a red ribbon as a symbol of your support for everyone affected by HIV, and to raise awareness.

Sources and other links:

• CBS News: South Africa Steps Up AIDS Fight
• Wall Street Journal: Zuma, Reversing Course, Expands HIV Treatment
• Britain’s National AIDS Trust: World AIDS Day Website
• A video from Annie Lennox’s program SING documenting the life of an African woman and her child living with HIV