Tuesday, December 01, 2009

 

The HIV/AIDS Strugle continues

Mi want a jook offa Jacqueline
But mi haffi draw for my rubbers,for my rubbers
Sex nice but the AIDs thing Wi mek yuh die out like flowers
Frisco Kid.


TOday December 1st,is designated as World Aids day. This day serves as a reminder to let us know that HIV is a very present threat that is hellbent on making its presence known.

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.4 million people living with HIV, including 2.1 million children. During 2008 some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.

HIV/AIDs is now the leading cause of death among women aged 15 to 44. For many women societal values prevent them from negotiating the use of condoms and others are often forced into non consensual sex. Couple years ago the world heard the chiiling stories out of SOuth Africa where children and babies were brutally raped by HIV ridden men on the premise that sex with a virgin will cure them. So many myths still prevail despite HIV being part of the world's vocabulary since the eighties.

On this World Aids day my plea is for persons to educate themselves about this disease and act accordingly. Those amongst us who continue to discriminate and stigmatize need to stop and re examine our stances. Pushing the blame game and ostracising persons affected By HIV does nothing to limit the spread of the disease. Instead the continued discrimination and stigmatising will only reduce the effectiveness of the HIV prevention programmes. Get tested,know your status abd learn how to protect yourselves and others.

Comments:
"Get tested, know your status and learn how to protect yourselves and others."

Amen!
 
It certainly doesn't discriminate.
 
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