AIDS Awareness

As May approaches I am getting ready to participate in the 2008 AIDS Walk New York. For the last two years I have been a volunteer as an employee of Starbuck’s. This year I decided to make a bigger commitment by taking part in the walk, and helping to raise as much money as possible.

While many people are more aware of AIDS today, and know of ways to help prevent it. AIDS still seems to affect thousands and even millions of people. Many people do not seem to realize the impact AIDS is having on both a global scale, and right here in the United States. AIDS also known as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, continues to affect millions of people.

A lot of people seem to have the misconception that AIDS is something they don’t have to worry about. I hope that by giving you some facts, you will keep yourself safe, as well as your partner. Help make people more aware!

There are many ways in which you can help raise money for those fighting AIDS. Some easy ways to help are by buying clothing that has been designed to help fight against AIDS. Just recently H&M and Designers Against AIDS have launched the "Fashion Against AIDS" collection. The clothing has been designed by well-known musicians, in attempts to help raise money and awareness. So next time you are out shopping, buy a piece a piece of clothing that will make a difference.

Here are some statistics about AIDS

Global

33.2 million people now live with HIV or AIDS.

In 2007, approximately 2.5 million people were infected with HIV.

Every day, over 6800 people become infected with HIV - almost five people per minute.

5700 people die from AIDS every day.

One child dies every minute.

15 million children around the world have been orphaned by AIDS, losing one or both parents to the disease.

Every fifteen seconds, another person age 15-24 becomes infected with HIV/AIDS.

US

Roughly one million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States.

Since the start of the AIDS epidemic, 1.5 million Americans have been infected with HIV and more than 524,000 have died of AIDS.

At least 40,000 people are infected each year.

African Americans account for 48% of new HIV infections.

AIDS is the leading cause of death for African American women aged 25 to 34 and HIV rates among Hispanic women are increasing.

The number of women living with HIV has tripled in the last two decades.

At least half of all new infections are among people under the age of 25.

Washington, DC has the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the United States - one in 20 people are living with HIV or AIDS.