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World AIDS Day 2008
1-Dec-2008
Written by: Jessica McCumber
A day to be reminded of some very sad statistics.
December 1 is World AIDS Day, and it brings with it the reminder that although there is progress being made, the epidemic of AIDS is still leaving a wake of startling statistics.
According to Yahoo.com, “Every 12 seconds someone contracts HIV,” and “Every 16 seconds someone dies from AIDS.”
The Web site reports that in 2007, 33,000,000 people had HIV, and of these, 2,000,000 were children and 15,500,000 were women.
The statistics for death due to AIDS were just as startling with 270,000 children dying in 2007 and 2,000,000 in total.
The Web page http://events.yahoo.com/worldaidsday/ has a wealth of information, including a world map where you can see how many people are living with HIV per country, an AIDS timeline, information about the disease and testing, and ways that you can help.
I would encourage everyone to visit the Web site and to get more educated and involved in the cause, as according to Yahoo, in the U.S. alone, there are 1,200,000 people living with HIV.
Among the Web sites listed where you can help contribute are:
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
www.pedaids.org
The ONE Campaign
www.one.org
Network for Good
www.networkforgood.org
AIDs Clock
www.unfpa.org
I would also like to add one – www.until.org/ – that sells bracelets that are affordable on any budget with proceeds going toward AIDS awareness. Celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Kim Kardashian, Carmen Electra, and Mandy Moore already wear the bracelet.
The best way to begin AIDS/HIV awareness is, of course, to get tested, which can be done discreetly in a number of ways.
Talk to other readers about this story.
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