Today we also celebrate World AIDS Day. And so I can at least contribute in spreading AIDS awareness and prevention, let me share some important facts about AIDS.
- AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a collection of illnesses caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), a virus that attacks the immune system.
- The first World AIDS Day was celebrated last December 1988 thus making today its 20th birthday.
- As of today 33.2 million people worldwide are HIV positive. 15 million of these are children under 15 years old.
- HIV cannot be passed through kissing, coughing, sneezing or spitting. Furthermore a person cannot be infected with HIV through toilet seats, swimming pools, or shared facilities or utensils.
- AIDS has no cure. They say that prevention is better than cure but in this case you really have no choice because there is no cure.
HIV prejudice is often the result of ignorance about how HIV is passed on and unfounded fear of becoming infected. So talking about HIV and finding out the facts can help. So spread the news, not the virus and help save lives.
