Today marks the 21st anniversary of World AIDS Day, a day the world comes together in unison to remember those who have died, and raise awareness of education and prevention methods of fighting HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day provides an opportunity to increase awareness about AIDS here and around the globe. With HIV infection rates increasing here in our own city, it's important for us to talk about how to prevent HIV infection.
According to UNAIDS, 8,200 people are infected with HIV/AIDS every day. That's one person almost every time you breathe, and more than 32 million people around the world who are infected and living with HIV.
There were nearly three million new cases last year.
The World Health Organization reports that 30% of all new HIV cases are women, a 400% increase compared with just five years ago. Oddly enough, most are infected by their husbands.
This finding has changed the previous perception that homosexuals and drug users are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.
Other threats
Rising rates of sexually transmitted diseases, particularly chlamydia, on college campuses and in high schools are a sign that students continue to have unprotected sex, placing them at risk of contracting the AIDS virus, officials said. An STD increases the chances that the virus will be transmitted.
"There has been a lot of backsliding on AIDS prevention," said Gary Kreps, VP of Public Affairs, George Mason University. "People have become more blasé about the threat of AIDS, saying there's a lot more treatment out there."
But health officials emphasize that AIDS continues to kill. And although people with HIV are living longer, and there is no guarantee that people will not be resistant to medication.
On Campus
This evening the FAMU Community will commemorate World AIDS Day with a Candlelight Vigil at 5:45 p.m. at the Eternal Flame.