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World AIDS
Day 2006
The 1 December is an opportunity to raise awareness
of HIV and AIDS, highlight specific issues related to living with
HIV and ensure the epidemic is kept on the national and international
agenda.
The International Federation and its 185 National
Societies will mark the day this year again with activities around
the 'Come closer' campaign to dispel the myths and fears that surround
how HIV is and isn't transmitted, so spreading the truth about AIDS.
It is calling for communities to come closer to people living with
HIV. It is also a reminder that HIV is not only an issue affecting
communities we serve, but it also affects volunteers and staff of
the organization.
World AIDS Day 2006 also heralds a broader call
for mobilization, with a 100 per cent increase in the International
Federation's global commitment to fight HIV and AIDS through the
creation of a new Red Cross Red Crescent Global Alliance.
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Humanity
against AIDS: Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro Rivero
On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the Red
Cross and Red Crescent reaffirms its belief in humanitarian
values and solidarity as a crucial tool for protecting the lives
and dignity of all people living with HIV/AIDS. Our work is
guided by the principle of Humanity, along with the principles
of Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service,
Unity and Universality. Based on this humanitarian doctrine,
we assume the obligation to prevent and alleviate suffering
and protect the lives and health of all people without discrimination,
always acting in equitable proportion to the gravity and urgency
of the circumstances. |
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Opinion
piece: Dr Mukesh Kapila
Year
after year, AIDS statistics hit us like a sledgehammer, a forceful
reminder of the uphill struggle against one of the worst afflictions
of humanity. Since the epidemic began, some 65 million people
have been infected, 25 million of whom have died. The chilling
death count continues at a rate of 8,000 a day. While it is
true that anti-retroviral treatment has brought hope, this alone
is not enough to vanquish the condition. The epidemic has profoundly
weakened or even decimated many poor communities, particularly
in Africa.
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Malawi:
Caroline, age 13, alone in the world
Caroline
is a pretty little girl of 13. When you see her dance with her
friends from the orchestra of Chisoko Community Child Care Centre,
you would almost think that she does not have a care in the
world. Yet in the beautiful region of Mwachongo Forest, near
Mwanza in southern Malawi, tragedy has struck her family. Caroline
is one of the thousands of children in southern Africa who are
known as 'orphans due to AIDS'. "I am the youngest of a
family of four children", she explains. "I lost my
mother at the age of seven. Last month, my daddy died". |
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Photo
gallery
A selection of photos
highlighting the plight of orphans, children and women in the
southern Africa region. More than 4.6 million children are orphaned
because of AIDS in the region and their numbers are expected
to double by 2010. Millions of children in southern Africa face
increased poverty as they are forced to withdraw from school
in order to take care of their ill parents or younger siblings.
The pandemic is also increasingly feminized. There are more
than twice as many young adult women infected than men. This
has led to high levels of mother-to-child transmission of HIV,
estimated at between 20-40%.
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International
Federation doubles efforts to help vulnerable people
The International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies is increasingly concerned by the
plight of vulnerable people affected by HIV and AIDS throughout
the world, especially women and young girls. The growing feminization
of the HIV epidemic is not just due to biological factors but
more the consequence of the social vulnerability of many women
and girls, including from rape, sexual exploitation and trafficking.
“The epidemic of sexual and gender-based violence must
be considered as an emergency in its own right,” says
Dr Mukesh Kapila, the International Federation’s Special
Representative for HIV and AIDS. |
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Send
an e-postcard
The Come closer campaign dispells the myths
and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS transmission. The eye-catching
designs of the Come closer campaign have been adapted as e-postcards.
We have chosen two of the designs for you to send: Shake!
Shake! and Touch! Touch!
Join the anti-stigma campaign and send one to your friends
and colleagues!
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