World AIDS Day

December 1 has been recognized for a number of years now as World AIDS Day, a day to remember those who have lived and died with AIDS, those who still live with it, and all their family, friends, loved ones and the world impacted by their illness.

More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.

Africa has 11.6 million AIDS orphans.

At the end of 2007, women accounted for 50% of all adults living with HIV worldwide, and for 59% in sub-Saharan Africa.

Young people (under 25 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide.

In developing and transitional countries, 9.7 million people are in immediate need of life-saving AIDS drugs; of these, only 2.99 million (31%) are receiving the drugs.
--Source

That's only a portion of the truly overwhelming information of a disease that came out of nowhere in 1981 to become an epidemic. It is a disease that started as a "Gay" disease until we learned the difficult and disastrous facts of its heterosexual nature. It is still a disease shrouded in superstition and mystery for many people who will contract it, spread it, and eventually die from it.

Yet, its nature may also hold information and possible keys to many other diseases. Even though there are other diseases that are just as fatal, the preventive nature of this one eludes us while it remains a source of disagreement. People do what is unhealthy - even when faced with death. Just look at cigarette smoking or the incidence of relapse among alcoholics with liver disease.

In short, AIDS may even be a paradigmatic disease for our day. A sexually-transmitted disease that can kill you but overloaded with denial and silence. Today is a day to pull back the silence and speak out. It is a day to remember those who have died- but it is also a day to prepare for more to live. Break the denial and help others live.