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World AIDS Day events in Madison
Michelle Samenfeld, City Editor
Today’s World AIDS Day warns of the danger that the epidemic will overwhelm the globe. In the United States, the Center for Disease Control said the rate of HIV diagnoses has increased 29 percent, with the highest increase among Latinos and gay and bisexual men.
Worldwide, AIDS-related deaths are responsible for more than 11 million African orphans. With a lack of availability of anti-retroviral treatment, which prolongs the life of those infected, these parents are dying prematurely. Deaths among parents are expected to reach 20 million by the end of the decade, according to a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund.
According to the World Health Organization, the worldwide death toll from AIDS is 8,000 every day and that number is increasing as deaths and those becoming infected are at unprecedented highs.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected by the epidemic with about 3.2 million new infections and 2.3 million deaths in 2003. The area is home to about 30 percent of the world’s HIV-positive people, but the region accounts for less than 2 percent of the world’s population.
In addition, HIV is also increasing in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in countries such as India, China, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Estonia and Latvia.
Last week, WHO officials said Latin America was also experiencing an increase in HIV and AIDS, yet while their efforts to fight the epidemic are increasing, inadequate resources, underreporting of the disease, inadequate health care and social prejudices were thwarting these efforts. It is likely these problems will also affect treatment in the rest of the world, once efforts begin to increase in places like Southern Africa.
Most countries and organizations such as the United Nations say a lot of the money they are giving is used toward anti-retroviral treatment and education, yet only a minuscule part of Sub-Saharan Africa has access to the medical treatment and basic knowledge of AIDS, according to a recent WHO report.
Hoping to help countries realize the global AIDS emergency, former South African President Nelson Mandela hosted an AIDS benefit concert in Cape Town, South Africa, with several celebrities in attendance and performances by Beyonce Knowles, Bono, Peter Gabriel and other musicians. In South Africa, 5.3 million people have HIV, which is more than any other country, according to U.N. data.
The concert was Mandela’s launch of his worldwide music-based awareness of HIV and AIDS in Africa campaign, which is called the 46664 Campaign.
The concert will be airing on MTV Monday night at 5 p.m.
In Madison, several events this week will observe World AIDS Day.
HospiceCare Inc. will be showing the documentary “A Closer Look,” which shows the world AIDS crisis from the perspective of interviews and profiles of men and women in countries worldwide, Thursday, Dec. 4. The film starts at 7 p.m. and HospiceCare Inc. is located at 5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy in Madison. Call 327-7198 to reserve a space.
“I have spent so much time pondering questions that seem to have no answers,” said Mia Morrisette, a clinical team leader at HospiceCare who recently spent two weeks in South Africa. “One of the biggest questions is how our global village will be affected by the 40 million AIDS orphans predicted worldwide within the next seven years.”
Also, photographer Andrew Petkun will display his exhibit “A Look at HIV/AIDS in Africa” Wednesday, Dec. 3, in the Class of ’25 Room of the Memorial Union. He will also be making a presentation in the Union Theater of the Memorial Union at 7:30 p.m. For information call 358-7062.
Sex Out Loud will facilitate a discussion Thursday, Dec. 4, about the transmission risks of HIV; HIV prevention strategies, including safer sex, safer needle use, and abstinence; and the local and global impact of HIV and AIDS; at the Memorial Union at 7:30 p.m. Free condoms and other safer-sex supplies will be available.
