Every year on December 1 it’s World AIDS Day. This day is to create awareness of HIV and AIDS. Right now there are 33 million people in the world who have HIV / AIDS. 22 Million of them live in Africa. In 2008 2.000.000 people died of AIDS and in the same year there were 15.000.000 orphans due to AIDS.

AIDS and HIV is not only something that exists in the developing countries, although the majority of infected people live there. The number of people having HIV / AIDS in western countries is growing rapidly too. Not only because of drug use but also because of unsafe sex between heterosexual people, so it’s not “just a gay thing” which so many people seem to think.

People infected with HIV in western countries can get life saving medication although that doesn’t make it easier because of the side effects and taboos surrounding HIV and AIDS. However people in developing countries often don’t have that option. They are depending on the help we offer them, our generosity to help them. Not only when they are infected with HIV or AIDS but also for prevention (knowledge) and helping the orphans.

Unfortunately due to the economic crisis people infected with HIV can eventually no longer get their AIDS-blockers because the money isn’t there anymore. And when that happens, all the work that has been done by so many people and organisations over the past years to help them will be for nothing. We then will be back where we started; a deadly worldwide epidemic. So in a way the people in the developing countries are the biggest victims of the economic crisis.

Every donation helps, even a small one. You can do so much as buy a song, or a video for a few dollars and with that help people who need it. Or if you want to do something that doesn’t cost you anything but a little of your time, you could walk a mile barefoot in one of these one-mile-walks around the globe (more added regularly!). One dollar for every registered participant will be donated to one of the goals you can chose from on your behalf. It really can and will make a difference in a person’s life!

And remember, we are very lucky to be born in a place where we can get the (medical) help we need. But you don’t get to choose where you are born, nor to be born to a mother who is infected by HIV. But we can chose to help them, help pregnant women who have HIV to follow a treatment plan that will narrow the chances of their babies being born with HIV significantly. Or help provide knowledge and thereby prevention.

Together we can stop this worldwide epidemic!

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