Everyday is World AIDS Day

December 1st is World AIDS Day and the theme this year is universal access and human rights. After 3 decades and 25 million deaths, there are now 33.4 million people world wide living with HIV and AIDS.  That number grows by a million a year after adding newly infected and subtracting deaths.  Of the 33 million infected, 15 million should be on drug treatment but only about 1/3 of those in need are receiving medication.  The suggestion now is to begin treatment sooner which only increases the numbers in need.  Also, it has been empirically proven that treatment and prevention are inextricably linked. Because the viral load in the body diminishes so greatly while on antiretroviral medication, one is not so apt to spread the disease.

In the US, 1.4 million people are HIV positive. Right in our own capitol, Washington DC, prevalence rates have reached an alarming 3%.  Indiana reported a ranking of 24th highest among 50 states in cumulative reported AIDS cases. Part of a comprehensive response toward an AIDS compentent nation involves advocacy, fund raising, direct service, partnering, and staying abreast of the political will. Currently we are backsliding in the management of AIDS, TB, and Malaria.  Illness devastation does not stop because of financial crisis.  Congress and the President are using the recent financial crisis as an  excuse to backtrack on their commitment to spend 48B over 5 years on AIDS, TB, and malaria. Flat funding our two major funding sources- Global Fund For AIDS, TB, and Malaria and  the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS  Relief(PEPFAR) has resulted in a critical problem for access to medication and has curtailed much in the way of prevention.

As a direct result of flat funding PEPFAR,  nearly 4000 folks are now on waiting lists for treatment among 8 states in the US.  This is reprehensible and  the numbers on wait lists in Africa  are far greater.  In addition to Global Fund and PEPFAR losses, private funding for AIDS services largely provided by faith-based organizations are dropping off because donors are shifting away from HIV. This is a tragic loss of opportunity to counter the AIDS pandemic where steady progress was being made.

One creative response from advocates to address global health shortfalls is to put a tiny tax ( .005 per cent) on large currency trades-  when large financial institutions regularly buy and sell massive amounts of world currencies to make quick profits. It’s thought that the tiny tax would  generate tens of billions of dollars each year without impacting activity of average Americans.We can ask our representatives to cosponsor the bill, Investing in Our Future Act HR 5783 sponsored by Rep. Peter Starks from California.

What does flat funding the two major funding sources  say about the future for AIDS in our world? This is very concerning! Please  write your representatives about  HR 5783 and think of one moreaction you might do in the next 6 months on behalf of those infected or affected by HIV and AIDS.  It’s our challenge to fill the gaps with funds, services, awareness, and hope!

The magnanimous grandmothers of Africa bury their own children from AIDS and then take on the care of their grandchildren orphaned by the disease. Poverty, lack of health care, and the lack of resources create additional hardships on these already burdened grandmothers.

In 2008, a group of women in Columbus began its organizing and advocacy work on behalf of these deserving grandmothers. This group, The Granny Connection, focuses on raising funds to help ease the plight of African grandmothers and their orphaned grandchildren. In some countries in sub-Saharan Africa, 40 - 60% of AIDS orphans are living in extreme poverty in grandmother-headed households. The challenges they face are overwhelming.