Almost 30 years on from the first diagnosis of HIV/AIDS are we really any closer to eradicating this rampant virus that destroys the lives of families around the world?
The UNAids report speaks of reductions in new infections and fewer Aids related deaths but are we really doing enough? Or has HIV/AIDS gone out of fashion? We are making progress but it is painfully slow.
Twitter is full of facts today that show we really have such a long way to go.
7000 people are infected with HIV every day. Nearly 1000 babies are infected in Sub Saharan Africa every day through Mother to child transmission. 90% of babies born with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa. Without treatment up to half will die by age 2.
Around 370,000 children are born with HIV each year. Each one of these infections is preventable,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director, UNAIDS. “We have to stop mothers from dying and babies from becoming infected with HIV.
But this morning, reading the Guardian newspaper I was disappointed to discover only one VERY small article about HIV/AIDS on WAD 2010. It seems that only if you have a vested interest in HIV/AIDS do you go out of your way to find out the progress countries are making in reducing rates.
HIV/AIDS seems to no longer be at the forefront of people’s minds. South Africa alone needs around $88 BILLION between now and 2031 to attempt to halt the spread of the virus. The amount needed to have any impact world wide must be almost unfathomable.
We need a prevention revolution. NOW
