SouthBrunswick

n the first of December, World AIDS Day is celebrated.  This day is an opportunity for people to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS, to remember those who have died of the disease and to celebrate accomplishments, such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.

Today, despite advances in HIV treatment and in laws designed to protect those living with HIV; many people do not know the facts about how to protect themselves and others from HIV or about the stigma and discrimination that remain a reality for many people living with HIV.  World AIDS Day is an important reminder to individuals and governments that HIV has not gone away – there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education.

The theme for World AIDS Day 2011 is “Getting to Zero.” After 30 years of the global fight against HIV/AIDS, this year the focus is on achieving 3 targets: Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths.

Zero New HIV Infections

It is estimated that 33.3 million people have HIV worldwide, with 1.2 million persons who are living with HIV in the United States, according to the Center of Disease Control (CDC) estimates.  This number is expected to continue to increase over time, as advances in treatments prolong the lives of those who are infected and more people become infected with HIV each year. Despite increases in the total number of people in the U.S. living with HIV infection in recent years, the annual number of new HIV infections has remained relatively stable. However, new infections continue at far too high of a level, with approximately 50,000 Americans becoming infected with HIV each year.  Worldwide, the rate of new infections, or incidence, has decreased. In 33 countries, the incidence has decreased more than 25 percent since 2001, including countries in the hardest hit areas of sub-Saharan Africa.

The CDC estimates that one in five people living with HIV in the U.S. are unaware of their infection.  This highlights the importance of reaching all infected individuals with HIV testing and prevention services. HIV can be transmitted in three main ways: sexual transmission; transmission through blood; and mother-to-child transmission.  These three routes of transmission work in tandem to affect segments of the population.  The number of infections resulting from each route will vary greatly between countries and population groups. HIV counseling and testing are fundamental for HIV prevention, as is access to essential commodities such as condoms or sterile injecting equipment.

Zero Discrimination

According to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, “Stigma remains the single most important barrier to public action. It is a main reason why too many people are afraid to see a doctor to determine whether they have the disease, or to seek treatment if so. It helps make AIDS the silent killer, because people fear the social disgrace of speaking about it, or taking easily available precautions. Stigma is a chief reason why the AIDS epidemic continues to devastate societies around the world.”

Discrimination against those infected with HIV/AIDS includes both the fear of getting the disease and also negative assumptions about people who are infected.  AIDS-related stigma has had a profound effect on the epidemic’s course. The World Health Organization cites fear of stigma and discrimination as the main reason why people are reluctant to be tested, to disclose their HIV status or to take antiretroviral drugs.

“We can fight stigma. Enlightened laws and policies are key. But it begins with openness, the courage to speak out. Schools should teach respect and understanding. Religious leaders should preach tolerance. The media should condemn prejudice and use its influence to advance social change, from securing legal protections to ensuring access to health care.” Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Zero AIDS Related Deaths

More than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007 have died from the virus worldwide, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.  In the US, nearly 594,500 people with AIDS in the US have died since the epidemic began.

The goal of ‘Zero AIDS Related Deaths’ signifies an increased access to available treatments for all those infected.  Currently, only one third of the 15 million people living with HIV worldwide who are in need of life long treatment are receiving it. Universal access to antiretroviral treatments for those living with HIV will not only decrease the number of AIDS related deaths, but will increase the quality of life among those infected and decrease transmission.

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for all of us to learn the facts about HIV.  By increasing the understanding of how HIV is transmitted, how it can be prevented, and the reality of living with HIV today-we can use this knowledge to take care of our own health and the health of others.

For more facts about HIV/AIDS and where to get tested, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/hiv.

iol.co.za

In commemoration of the 23rd World Aids Day, the well-known annual gala concert produced and directed by Professor Jimmie Earl Perry will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Thursday.

Now in it’s seventh year, the event will be presented by funnyman Soli Philander with a line-up of guests that includes Perry himself (the first UN Aids Special Goodwill Ambassador to South Africa), Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Vicky Sampson, Dutch X-Factor winner Sharon Kips, as well as many other artists.

This event has, in the past, been hosted by The Africa Centre for HIV/Aids Management at Stellenbosch University in partnership with the Western Cape Government Health, honouring individuals and organisations who have contributed to the fight against HIV/Aids.

The centre has developed the largest HIV/Aids management training programme in the world and the Educational Theatre and Arts division does education, awareness, prevention and voluntary testing across the country under the leadership of professors Jan du Toit and Perry.

Other artists who will make an appearance include Vuyiseka Dubula, Nombeko Mpongo and Toni Zimmerman, three HIV-positive women who are living healthy lives; Janelle Visagie and Arline Jaftha (opera); a group of young jazz artists that includes Sandile Gonstana, Chad Zerf, Amy Campbell, Spha Mdlalose, Vuyo Sotashe and others; a 20-voice strong youth choir directed by Lynette Petersen and Larry Joe who is well-known for recording his debut album Crazy Life in Douglas Prison, US, a year ago.

This programme of classical, pop and adult contemporary works is also a platform for committed artists to perform in a professional environment in support of this cause.

Plusieurs “marches des fierté” ont été organisées dans les grandes capitales d’Europe. Gay, bi, trans n’ont pas hésité à fustiger leurs gouvernements respectifs, surtout dans les pays à dominante très catholique.

A Rome : “la liberté pour tous”
Sous le soleil de l’après-midi du samedi 13 juin, des dizaines de milliers de personnes se sont rendues à la Gay Pride organisée dans la capitale italienne. Les militants costumés, n’ont pas hésité à critiquer le gouvernement conservateur de Silvio Berlusconi. Ils demandaient “la liberté pour tous”, ainsi que des droits pour les couples de même sexe et la reconnaissance du mariage homosexuel. Plus d’une vingtaine de chars ont paradé dans la ville.

A Zagreb : “Homophobie, repose en paix”
Ils étaient entre cinq et huit cents à manifester dans la capitale croate, lors de la 8e Gay Pride organisée dans le pays, tandis que qu’une cinquantaine de contre-manifestants, probablement d’extrême droite, les injuriaient. Aucune violence physique n’a été rapportée.

A Varsovie : “4O ans d’égalité, 20 ans de liberté”
Environ 1.500 personnes ont défilé dans la capitale polonaise. Néanmoins, ce fut sous la protection de la police car des dizaines de jeunes d’extrême droite se sont montrés agressifs et insultaient le cortège. Certaines des banderoles demandaient notamment une légalisation des unions homosexuelles. Mot d’ordre : “4O ans d’égalité, 20 ans de liberté”. Une allusion au 40ème anniversaire des premiers mouvements homosexuels aux Etats-Unis, et au 20ème anniversaire de la chute du communisme en Pologne et en Europe de l’Est.

Difficultés pour la première Gay Pride chinoise

L’organisation de la première Gay Pride de Chine, cette semaine à Shanghai, est fortement perturbée par les autorités. La projection d’un film et la représentation d’une pièce de théâtre ont fait les frais des interventions officielles, selon le témoignage d’un porte-parole de Shanghai LGBT, recueilli par l’AFP.

La projection du film, qui devait se tenir dans un restaurant a été annulée «à la dernière minute mercredi soir», après l’intervention de responsables du Bureau de l’Industrie et du Commerce municipal, ayant signifié à l’établissement qu’il n’avait aucune autorisation pour projeter des films. Le même scénario s’est déroulé dans un galerie d’art qui devait accueillir une représentation théâtrale du “Projet Laramie”, vendredi soir.