World AIDS Day is almost over. A few facts before it's gone for another year.
This year's focus was on HIV infection in women and girls. 47% of the world's HIV infections are female now. (source World Health Organization)
The following is from the annual report for 2004 of the WHO and the UNAIDS (ranges indicate boundaries based on best available info):
Number of people living with HIV/AIDS in 2004 Total: 39.4 million (35.9 - 44.3 million)
Adults 37.2 million (33.8 - 41.7 million)
Women 17.6 million (16.3 - 19.5 million)
Children under 15 years 2.2 million (2.0 - 2.6 million)
People newly infected with HIV in 2004 Total 4.9 million (4.3 - 6.4 million)
Adults 4.3 million (3.7 - 5.7 million)
Children under 15 years 640 000 (570 000 - 750 000)
*That is almost a 12.5% increase.*
AIDS deaths in 2004 Total 3.1 million (2.8 - 3.5 million)
Adults 2.6 million (2.3 - 2.9 million)
Children under 15 years 510 000 (460 000 - 600 000)
Comparing the new infection and mortality rates to the national population of Canada 32,507,874 (population source CIA World Factbook, believe it or not), the number of people who died of AIDS in the world this year was equal to almost 9.5% of the Canadian population. And new infections were equal to 15% of the population. In other words, it's as if one in every 10 people in Canada died of AIDs this year. Can you imagine that many people dying? And more than one in 10 being infected?
Question, how many of you engaged in risky behaviour without proper protection this year?
You don't have to answer. I know I've done this in past.
And more questions, what will you do to help prevent the spread of this epidemic? What will you do to help its victims?
I feel like I should do something. I just don't know where to begin.
This year's focus was on HIV infection in women and girls. 47% of the world's HIV infections are female now. (source World Health Organization)
The following is from the annual report for 2004 of the WHO and the UNAIDS (ranges indicate boundaries based on best available info):
Number of people living with HIV/AIDS in 2004 Total: 39.4 million (35.9 - 44.3 million)
Adults 37.2 million (33.8 - 41.7 million)
Women 17.6 million (16.3 - 19.5 million)
Children under 15 years 2.2 million (2.0 - 2.6 million)
People newly infected with HIV in 2004 Total 4.9 million (4.3 - 6.4 million)
Adults 4.3 million (3.7 - 5.7 million)
Children under 15 years 640 000 (570 000 - 750 000)
*That is almost a 12.5% increase.*
AIDS deaths in 2004 Total 3.1 million (2.8 - 3.5 million)
Adults 2.6 million (2.3 - 2.9 million)
Children under 15 years 510 000 (460 000 - 600 000)
Comparing the new infection and mortality rates to the national population of Canada 32,507,874 (population source CIA World Factbook, believe it or not), the number of people who died of AIDS in the world this year was equal to almost 9.5% of the Canadian population. And new infections were equal to 15% of the population. In other words, it's as if one in every 10 people in Canada died of AIDs this year. Can you imagine that many people dying? And more than one in 10 being infected?
Question, how many of you engaged in risky behaviour without proper protection this year?
You don't have to answer. I know I've done this in past.
And more questions, what will you do to help prevent the spread of this epidemic? What will you do to help its victims?
I feel like I should do something. I just don't know where to begin.
VIEW 10 of 10 COMMENTS
As for helping abroad, that's a tough one. I have two good freinds that spent the better part of the year in Haiti working towards AIDS awareness and prevention. It's such an uphill battle and really it's the private groups that are taking on the challenge. The US government has not exactly made it a priority. When the Bush Administration took over in 2001, they cut funding to any overseas religious-based aid group that advocated birth control. (Part of the wonderful "morality" of the Bush Administration, forcing their religious beliefs onto everyone else via exercising their political muscle, i.e holding the pursestrings... but I shouldn't get started!) Unfortunately, birth control is inherently linked to AIDS prevention. Thus, these groups had to cease distribution of condoms and their educational efforts in order to stay afloat. Another good friend of mine quit a high level position at Catholic Relief Services over this. It's really discouraging.
--l*P