World Aids Day

Today is World Aids day. It is important that we, us youth especially, pay serious attention to the issues effecting our communities. So let's take today to organize around an issue that affects millions worldwide.

World AIDS Day was started on 1st December 1988. World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. The World AIDS Day theme for 2009 is 'Universal Access and Human Rights'. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

There are approximately 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.

The vast majority of people with HIV and AIDS live in lower- and middle-income countries. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all over the world. 

Show your support today by wearing something red. Go a step further; complete a community service project in your area and join the fight against HIV and AIDS. Here are a few ideas to get you started: 

•Invite elected officials to visit a local HIV/AIDS service organization.
•Hold a cultural or faith-based event with speakers who can call attention to the local epidemic. 
•Offer free HIV testing at a special event. Offer incentives to attend. Get tested yourself to set an example, or ask a local celebrity to take the test.
•Organize a health fair to educate people about HIV/AIDS, testing options and other health issues.
•Honor a local leader or organization for their response to the epidemic.

For more ideas, visit: www.aids.gov or visit www.cdc.gov for updates on HIV and AIDS statistics.