World AIDS DAY..Access and Human Rights

‘Universal Access and human Rights’ is the theme for this year’s World AIDS day which is in its 12th year. It is about enhancing awareness and destroying ignorance There are now 33.3million people living with HIV, including 2,5 children. An estimated 1,8 million people died from AIDS and about 2,6 million new infections occurred in 2009, this is according to UNAIDS.

Anybody living in South Africa can tell you, SA has a large number of people living with HIV and more lives are lost each day to the epidemic. An estimated 5.6 million people were living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa in 2009, more than in any other country. It is believed that in 2009, an estimated 310,000 South Africans died of AIDS. 17.8 percent among those aged 15-49, with some age groups being particularly affected. Almost one-in-three women aged 25-29, and over a quarter of men aged 30-34, are living with HIV. HIV prevalence among those aged two and older also varies by province with the Western Cape (3.8%) and Northern Cape (5.9%) being least affected, and Mpumulanga (15.4%) and KwaZulu-Natal (15.8%) at the upper end of the scale. (Statistics according to Avert, international AIDS charity)
‘Universal Access and Human Rights’ is a promise global leaders have made to work towards universal access to HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and care sighting these as fundamental human rights. So this is an opportunity for you, for me to make a real difference by not judging, by helping out where you can whether it be helping those left orphaned or raising funds for a charity or even just educating yourself and those close to you...there is room for change no matter how little, it shall all amass.