AIDS: A Global Epidemic
At the end of 2003 around 40 million people in the world were living with HIV. The year 2003 alone saw 5 million new HIV infections and 3 million lives lost due to AIDS. The number of children orphaned because one or both parents died from AIDS has reached 15 million worldwide. Southern Africa is experiencing the worst of the epidemic. Although the region represents only 2% of the world's population, Southern Africa is home to almost 30% of the people living with AIDS worldwide. The crisis continues to grow at alarming proportions in Asia and Eastern Europe. December 1 is World AIDS Day. This year's theme is Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS to emphasize that gender inequality is contributing to the rapid growth of the epidemic. Not only are women physically more susceptible to the HIV infection, women and young girls are the primary caregivers of the sick and they are more likely to lose their job, income, home, and other assets in many countries if they are widowed. Take advantage of this day to help your students become better informed. This epidemic affects us all.
More information can be found on the following websites:
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/aids/perspective.html
www.pbs.org/newshour/health/aids/index.html
http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/aids/
www.omhrc.gov/hivaidsobservances/wad/index.html
http://worldaidsday.nih.gov/worldaidsday/december1.htm
www.un.org/events/tenstories/story.asp?storyID=400
SOURCE: www.unaids.org