Many have read about HIV, while others have
experienced it; some have just been distant observers of the
situation, while others became agents of change; some have
remained surrounded by fear and silence, while others have
disclosed their status and contributed to their own healing
process.
Many
remain in denial, while the disease slowly takes over their
bodies and their lives…
The
complexity of HIV and AIDS, has prompted extensive medical
research, and much progress has been made in the past years:
• Better
treatments are improving and extending the lives of many.
•
Vaccines are being intensively researched.
• New
investigations on vaginal gels reported progress this year,
and
encouraging results indicate that about one third of the
women who
participated in the trials, were protected from infection.
•
Preventative treatment for the Mother-to-Child Transmission,
represents
one of the best proven tools to avoid new infections.
• More
awareness is being promoted, and access to information is
more
easily available today. Behavioral changes are being
constantly explored
and improved.
• The
barriers of stigma and silence continue to be broken down in
many
parts of Africa, and in the world at large.
A new
UNAIDS report released this week showed that the global AIDS
epidemic has slowed down, with a 20% decrease in new HIV
infections over the past decade.
However,
as we see a decline in the rest of the world, we are seeing
an increase of new infections in Eastern Europe and Central
Asia. As we write this article, the spread of HIV in Eastern
Europe and Central Asia has increased three times in the
same period.
Let’s use
every available means to stop the virus, and to make a
difference in the lives of those already touched by the
epidemic. And please, do not forget to help protect those at
risk, like our children and youth, the young women and men,
and even the grandmothers involved in home based care and
orphans care.
Let’s not
give up on this challenge! Remember,
