HIV/AIDs does not discriminate. It is not limited to race, religion or economic classes. Many people here in Canada have HIV and won't even know it.
FACT: OVER 40 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE WORLD HAVE HIV/AIDS.
This number will increase every day.
FACT: IN THE US ALONE, THE NUMBER OF DEATHS OF THOSE WITH AIDS UP UNTIL 2004 WAS 529,113.
5,515 of that number was children under age 13.
FACT: ABOUT 24-27% OF THE POPULATION THAT HAS HIV/AIDS WERE UNAWARE AND UNDIAGNOSED.
The only way to know is to get tested.
FACT: 18 MILLION CHILDREN HAVE ALREADY LOST ONE OR BOTH PARENTS TO AIDS.
This number will escalte to 25 million by 2010 if nothing is done.
Another common misconception is that HIV/AIDS only happen to those who are careless about sex and don't take the right percautions. Some people can get the mentality that it is their fault they have the disease, so why should we care? What about those born with HIV/AIDS? What about those who are raped by those with HIV/AIDs? Do those people deserve this disease?
This isn't just some forward I have copied and feel the need to pass on. These are my words and the words of many others who feel strongly about putting an end to this epidemic.
Maybe some of you haven't cared too much about it in the past because you don't know anyone with HIV/AIDS. Maybe you do. So many cases of these disease go undiagnosed because people aren't informed enough about it.
Maybe you haven't paid a lot of attention to it because you don't know enough about it. I'm urging you to get yourself educated. KNOWING ABOUT IT IS THE FIRST STEP TO ENDING IT! Here are some website that may be helpful to you:
http://www.worldaidsday.org/
http://www.worldaidscampaign.info/
http://www.knowhivaids.org/facts_ba
Now that you know about it, you CAN'T ignore it. It won't go away. Not without your help.
Educate yourself. Educate others. Do something