I believe that this could very well be looked back on as the sin of our generation…I believe that our children and their children, 40 or 50 years from now, are going to ask me, what did you do while 40 million children became orphans in Africa? History will judge us on how we respond to the AIDS emergency in Africa….whether we stood around with watering cans and watched while a whole continent burst into flames….or not No war on the face of the Earth is more destructive than the AIDS pandemic. Investment in AIDS will be repaid a thousand-fold in lives saved and communities held together. AIDS destroys families, decimates communities and, particularly in the poorest areas of the world, threatens to destabilize the social, cultural, and economic fabric of entire nations.
It’s really important for people who are HIV positive to reach out to let other people know that they can be tested, they can find out they can still live a life — a positive life, a happy life. It’s really important for people who are HIV positive to reach out to let other people know that they can be tested, they can find out they can still live a life — a positive life, a happy life. It takes a variety of strategies and initiatives to address this pandemic. It’s about life, death, and the survival of humanity. Abstinence, being faithful, correct, and consistent condom use are the only ways to successfully reach everyone when discussing HIV prevention. I believe that the abstinence message alone does not solve the AIDS epidemic. And the danger is – and it’s happening – is we’re seeing an incredibly big rise amongst young gay people, young heterosexual people as far as catching HIV, which is, you know, in an educated country like this or in Britain, it’s frightening. HIV does not make people dangerous to know, so you can shake their hands and give them a hug:
Heaven knows they need it. In fact, it seems to me that making strategic alliances across national borders in order to treat HIV among the world’s poor is one of the last great hopes of solidarity across a widening divide. The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response. In particular it requires solidarity — between the healthy and the sick, between rich and poor, and above all, between richer and poorer nations. We have 30 million orphans already. How many more do we have to get, to wake up?” What is needed now are increased efforts to promote youth participation and commitment; more services aimed at youth; more parental involvement; more education and information, using schools and other sites; more protection for girls, orphaned children and young women;and more partnerships with people with HIV and AIDS. Everywhere I go, I see very much the same thing. I see the same compassion for people who live half a world away.
I see the same concern about events beyond these borders. And, increasingly, I see the same conviction that we can and we must join together to stop the scourge of AIDS and poverty. Every minute of every day, a child under 15 is infected with HIV – the overwhelming majority of children under 15 who are HIV-positive get infected through their mothers at birth. Without treatment, half of these children die before they reach their second birthday. Every minute of every day, a child under 15 is infected with HIV – the overwhelming majority of children under 15 who are HIV-positive get infected through their mothers at birth. Without treatment, half of these children die before they reach their second birthday. AIDS is no longer a death sentence for those who can get the medicines. Now it’s up to the politicians to create the “comprehensive strategies” to better treat the disease. AIDS is no longer a death sentence for those who can get the medicines. Now it’s up to the politicians to create the “comprehensive strategies” to better treat the disease. Education, awareness and prevention are the key, but stigmatisation and exclusion from family is what makes people suffer most.
