Since 1981, when AIDS was discovered, more than 25 million people have died. More than 38 million people around the world are infected with HIV/AIDS today. AIDS is destroying whole populations of people, leaving thousands of communities without whole generations of potential teachers, doctors, social workers, and other necessary services for survival. The biggest problem is the lack of education on the topic of HIV and AIDS, both domestically and internationally. Lack of education leads to both prejudice and the perpetuation of the epidemic that because of the large amount of lives it has already claimed is deemed a pandemic. Poverty is directly related to the perpetuation of AIDS, and therefore need to be viewed as problems that affect one another.

It is important to not get overwhelmed by the statistics and in stead focus on the individual personal stories that have affected millions of people around the globe. Think of the children who have been orphaned, think of the mothers left with no source of income, think of the students left with no teachers and the hospitals left without doctors, think of those whose lives have been turned upside down because of this virus, and then think about how you can affect that individual life.

Challenge: Try to inform yourself about aspects you do not know or understand about AIDS and then discuss it with your friends at church, school or neighborhood. Go to www.one.org and sign the ONE declaration, which emphasis the need and urgency of this situation and the fact that with certain legislations being passed and fighting against poverty as a whole, AIDS can be better controlled and prevented.