World AIDS Day

December 1, 2009 marks our 21st annual World AIDS Day, a day where we see both advances and setbacks in the state of HIV and AIDS. New infections of HIV have dropped and less children are born with the disease because of medical advances, but still, each day in Africa, 4,000 people die of AIDS-related complications, leaving behind children both healthy and sick that have no one to care for them. Discrimination is still widely problematic for HIV and AIDS-affected individuals all around the world, as there are lingering misconceptions and ignorance about the disease itself.

People have even begun to view HIV/AIDS as a chronic illness in some ways rather than a terminal one, despite the fact that it has no cure or vaccine at this time. Prevention programs seem to help, but for every two people on treatment for HIV/AIDS, five are newly-infected, signaling that there are still many groups that need to be reached through such efforts.

The bottom line is, that while HIV/AIDS has largely receded from the spotlight in the United States, it is still a widespread problem across the world that demands awareness and action. Look for ASOs (AIDS Services Organizations) in your area to support if you feel called to do so, like this great organization in the Denver area - http://www.fromhivtohome.org/ - which helps get HIV and AIDS-affected orphans into loving, nurturing homes where they can thrive.

Thinking about HIV/AIDS and their effect on the last several decades can be heart-breaking and overwhelming, but if you want to get involved, it can help to focus on a specific aspect of the epidemic, like working on education and prevention or volunteering for your local AIDS walk. I used to cook meals at a foster home for children with HIV and AIDS, because it was something I knew how to do and a way I felt I could make a difference. How will you make a difference this World AIDS Day?