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Okay, just *one* more thing first
December 1st, 2009
Before I dive in to my favourite moments of 2009, I’ll ask you to join me today in marking World Aids Day. Sometimes here in Canada it’s easy to forget about this epidemic that’s plaguing much of the developing world. We’re lucky that we haven’t been affected to the same extent that so many other nations have.
We all know what’s happening out there. You don’t need me to tell you that HIV and AIDS are spreading at an uncontrollable rate and decimating populations. We all know at this point how it’s spread and how to avoid contracting it. And we all know that this isn’t a problem that’s just going to go away on its own.
A few numbers:
33.4 million – the number of people living with HIV or AIDS in the world
5.2 million – the number of people living with HIV or AIDS in South Africa
1.4 million – the number of AIDS orphans in South Africa
73,000 – the number of people estimated to be living with HIV or AIDS in Canada
27% – the estimated percentage of those 58,000 in Canada who are believed to be unaware of their infection (approx. 15,800)
The virus is the same around the world, and it takes advantage of circumstances. We are fortunate enough in Canada that we are able to speak openly about HIV and AIDS without fear of the same retribution that’s seen in other countries. We have a government that acknowledges the severity of the situation. We have programs in place to educate us from a very young age and teach us how to stay safe. Even still, we have many people being infected every year, many without even realizing it. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that nations who don’t have the same resources would be hit harder.
The situation is desperate, but there is hope. Check out the Stephen Lewis Foundation for more information about the global efforts to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS and read Stephen’s World AIDS Day message. This is an incredible organization founded by one of Canada’s greatest leaders, and they’re making tremendous strides for the cause.
December 11th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I love that you posted this!!!!!
I spent 3 months in South Africa in 2006 volunteering in a pre-school. In addition to running the preschool, the woman i lived with also ran programs through the school for women in the community to teach them skills which would help them contribute to society and bring additional income into their families. One of these programs included a beeding class, which took place once a week in the school. In addition to other beautiful jewlery, they made lapels just like the one in your photo.
This community, lived in shack houses just up the street from our school. They used fire for heat, and one day one of the children came in with very serious burns on her arms and legs. She fell into it in the night. It was devistating for me. And as a volunteer, i was not allowed to touch her until her wounds were cleaned and dealt with. As volunteers, we were not allowed to know which children were HIV positive, but trained to treat them all as if they were. I suppose this makes sense. First, you’re protecting yourself. Second, you treat all of them the same. Both very important. But how sad that it’s an issue in the first place. How sad thay they teach sexual and physical abuse in preschool. How unfortunate that any community – especially when filled with such optimism – feels like this is just the way it is.
P.S. Since the year 2000, women have accounted for 25% of all cases in Canada ( which is a huge increase since 1997)
When i was in university, i asked for an HIV test – they tried to refuse me because i wasn`t a `hish risk` candidate. no such thing in my opinion.
Also – i recently saw a study which suggested that a large portion of high school students in Canada today think that HIV is curable.