Zero: That's the Challenge

Number of weeks I miss blogging for the rest of 2011? I think that's a good idea, but that's not the zero I'm referring to. I'm talking work today because today is a big day in the global health world. Today's World AIDS Day. So what's zero got to do with World AIDS Day? This year's theme is all about getting to zero--zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths.

Did you know that we're marking 30 years of AIDS? It has been a long time, so we must not be making progress if there is still a World AIDS Day and a need for action, right? Wrong. Last year there were 1.8 million AIDS-related deaths. That's down from 2.2 million in 2005. More people are getting the treatment they need and learning their HIV status earlier so that they can live longer, more productive lives due to antiretroviral therapy.

Although HIV/AIDS is known around the world, there are many misconceptions that persist to this day about the virus and disease, like how you can get it. HIV is transmitted through body fluids and all of the methods of transmission are preventable. You read that right--preventable. So, when someone tells you not to shake the hand of a person with HIV or AIDS, they are either seriously miseducated on the modes of transmission or they are discriminating against someone because of their HIV status or the perception of their lifestyles. Either way, now you can educate them.

How can you help? Be smart, educate yourself, and keep an open heart and mind. Be an advocate.

Learn more at the following websites:

• UNAIDS
• US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
• AVAC (The AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition)
• The Global Campaign for Microbicides
• The World Health Organization
• PATH