Epidemic still an issue

Twenty years after the AIDS threat came to the forefront of the American consciousness, it has become all too easy for us to let AIDS fall to the corner of our minds. With new drug cocktails that can prolong the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS years beyond what we originally thought possible, HIV/AIDS doesn't seem to most of us like it's a big problem anymore. This, unfortunately, is very far from the truth. \nAccording to a new study released by UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, an estimated 40 million people worldwide are living with HIV in 2001. There have been 3 million AIDS-related deaths already this year, and 5 million new HIV infections. The study also says that one-third of those currently living with HIV/AIDS are aged 15-24, and most of them are not aware that they have even been infected with the virus.\nWhile the infection rate in the United States has decreased during the last few years because of increased educational initiatives and more advanced drug treatments, there are still 940,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in North America -- with 45,000 new infections since the beginning of the year. And this is with the excellent resources we have. Other countries are faring much worse. \nThe UNAIDS study says that in 2001,there were on average 14,000 new infections a day, with over 95 percent of these occurring in developing countries. One of the hardest hit areas has been Sub-Saharan Africa, that claims a massive 3.4 million infections of the 5 million new infections world-wide. An estimated 7,000 Africans -- almost twice the number of people who died in the World Trade Centers -- die each day from AIDS related diseases. They lack the educational and medical resources found in the U.S. and other developed countries around the world, and cannot afford medications that could give them longer, healthier lives. \nFriday, Dec. 1, marks World AIDS Day, an official day of awareness and action against the devastating virus. A service of Remberance and Celebration of Hope will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Church, luminaries around the courthouse will be lit and there will be activities at secondary schools that include videos, information and red ribbons as part of Bloomington AIDS awareness.\nHelp promote AIDS awareness by wearing a red ribbon or giving to an AIDS organization on Dec. 1 -- but don't let it stop there. The only way that we can put an end to the suffering caused by AIDS is to continue our efforts year round. AIDS is a serious issue that we as a nation, and as a global community, cannot afford to ignore.\n