You know someone living with HIV/AIDs. They may not be close to you and they may not have disclosed it to you, but chances are there is someone you know. In my family, my grandmothers brother died in the early 90’s from AIDS. I remember being in 3rd grade and our family had to visit him in South Carolina. It was a sad time because he was so sick, bedridden and all. AIDs isn’t just a something that plagues far off countries, it happens every day in our own back yard. Don’t be stupid people! Everyday you should be making choices that keep you safe, but today is a day to spread awareness. Have you been tested lately?
Think about these statistics: According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.4 million people living with HIV, including 2.1 million children. During 2008 some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.
/end rant
Those stats are terrifying! I lost three family members in the 90’s due to HIV/AIDS complications. Back then doctors thought they had it all figured out just like in the 80’s when it was only affecting “this group” and not the others. Although, I felt unfortunate at the time comprehending those facts at such a young age, it really helped me to develop into the young woman I am today. HIV/AIDS was my anti-drug and anti-whore campaign. Even though I dodged those two bullets I’m crippled with fear that out of the all the women living with HIV/AIDS in the United States are African American and heterosexual.
majority* are African American and heterosexual.