World AIDS Day Highlights Leadership in Fight Against HIV/AIDS
Monday 1st December 2008
December 1st will be the 20th World AIDS Day, an event dedicated to helping to fight the disease that has claimed so many lives across the world, as well as improving the lives of those suffering from the illness.
Beijing's "Bird's Nest" Stadium will have a giant AIDS ribbon attached to its outside. Image by Jmex.
The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Lead-Empower-Deliver”. World AIDS Day is organized by UNAIDS. They chose the theme of leadership this year to celebrate the leadership shown by people throughout society in fighting against the scourge of AIDS, as well as to point out political leadership.
In the UK, the National AIDS Trust has taken the theme of leadership and applied it to the national activities. The NAT has chosen Respect and Protect as the UK theme for World AIDS Day 2008. Building on the theme of leadership, the NAT hopes that the Respect and Protect theme will inspire people to always show respect to those living with the disease, as well as show themselves and their partners respect by always practicing safe sex. They also hope that they will spread the message.
While the UK may have its own national theme, the entire world is marking World AIDS Day today as well. In China, the country’s AIDS authorities have made a huge public display for the occasion. Those of you who watched the Olympics this summer may recall the giant “Bird’s Nest” stadium in Beijing.
In keeping with the theme of leadership, China helped show how they were leading their own fight against HIV/AIDS with a giant red AIDS ribbon attached to the stadium. The massive ribbon shows health officials’ dedication to helping fight the disease in a country where the spread of HIV/AIDS is becoming an increasingly serious issue.
Dr. Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director, told the UN’s website: “The AIDS epidemic is not over anywhere. The AIDS ribbons on the Bird’s Nest symbolize the worldwide impact of the epidemic and the need for a unified global response.”
China’s very public display helps to get people talking about AIDS in a country where the heavy social stigma attached to sufferers of the disease can prevent people from discussing it, helping keep people ignorant of the facts about the disease and sadly helping it spread in the country. Much of the country would prefer those suffering from HIV to live far away from them, with 30% even suggesting that children should be segregated from others if they are living with HIV/AIDS.
There are approximately 700,000 known cases of people living with HIV/AIDS in China, with more than 50,000 people contracting the disease last year. 20,000 people died of AIDS related complications in 2007 alone.
Worldwide there are around 33 million men and women suffering from this incurable disease. As the UN’s theme reminds us, we all need to be leaders in the fight against AIDS. Lead the way, educating those you know, dedicating time and resources to the fight, and always practice safe sex. If you lead, others will follow.
Beijing's "Bird's Nest" Stadium will have a giant AIDS ribbon attached to its outside. Image by Jmex.
The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Lead-Empower-Deliver”. World AIDS Day is organized by UNAIDS. They chose the theme of leadership this year to celebrate the leadership shown by people throughout society in fighting against the scourge of AIDS, as well as to point out political leadership.
In the UK, the National AIDS Trust has taken the theme of leadership and applied it to the national activities. The NAT has chosen Respect and Protect as the UK theme for World AIDS Day 2008. Building on the theme of leadership, the NAT hopes that the Respect and Protect theme will inspire people to always show respect to those living with the disease, as well as show themselves and their partners respect by always practicing safe sex. They also hope that they will spread the message.
While the UK may have its own national theme, the entire world is marking World AIDS Day today as well. In China, the country’s AIDS authorities have made a huge public display for the occasion. Those of you who watched the Olympics this summer may recall the giant “Bird’s Nest” stadium in Beijing.
In keeping with the theme of leadership, China helped show how they were leading their own fight against HIV/AIDS with a giant red AIDS ribbon attached to the stadium. The massive ribbon shows health officials’ dedication to helping fight the disease in a country where the spread of HIV/AIDS is becoming an increasingly serious issue.
Dr. Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director, told the UN’s website: “The AIDS epidemic is not over anywhere. The AIDS ribbons on the Bird’s Nest symbolize the worldwide impact of the epidemic and the need for a unified global response.”
China’s very public display helps to get people talking about AIDS in a country where the heavy social stigma attached to sufferers of the disease can prevent people from discussing it, helping keep people ignorant of the facts about the disease and sadly helping it spread in the country. Much of the country would prefer those suffering from HIV to live far away from them, with 30% even suggesting that children should be segregated from others if they are living with HIV/AIDS.
There are approximately 700,000 known cases of people living with HIV/AIDS in China, with more than 50,000 people contracting the disease last year. 20,000 people died of AIDS related complications in 2007 alone.
Worldwide there are around 33 million men and women suffering from this incurable disease. As the UN’s theme reminds us, we all need to be leaders in the fight against AIDS. Lead the way, educating those you know, dedicating time and resources to the fight, and always practice safe sex. If you lead, others will follow.
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