A lot of things have been said about this day, what it’s for, who we are supposed to remember and it’s general purpose. For me it means a lot of things. I have had a very close encounters with HIV positive people and I strongly feel that more than anything this day should be a celebration of life.
Yes, AIDS is a deadly disease with no cure but nowadays people living with HIV can hope to live just as long as anyone. Sadly the same can not be said about people living with HIV all over the world, but things are slowly changing. Access to free HIV treatment at point of service is common in industrialized countries, and a growing number of developing countries are now choosing this option. Countries such as Botswana, Brazil, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Thailand, Senegal, and Zambia have all abolished, or slashed, user fees for HIV treatment.**
Of course this is a great step in treating HIV positive people but obviously so much more can be done. It’s sometimes difficult to see where we fit into the greater scheme of things and do our bit to help out. Not all of us have the money to donate to charities but what most of us do have is: TIME. Donating your time to charities is easy and they are always looking for volunteers for various jobs that not only provide the chance to help out but also give you great personal satisfaction.
If you want to donate your time (or money) have a look at AIDSCharity.org for a complete list of charities around the world, where you can get involved in anyway you can. Go on! Helping out is only a click away.
** Facts provided by World Health Organization.
