Red Ribbons Are Not Enough

Do you remember Ryan White? In the 1980’s he fought to raise AIDS awareness after he was expelled from school for “being a risk to the health of fellow students.” I remember Ryan very well. I remember being in awe of this boy as he stared in the face of authority (and possible death) without a hint of fear. I doubted that I would have his courage if I were faced with the same adversity. Throughout the 1980’s other kids with HIV were being denied access to public school, but their stories had less impact on me as a child. For instance, the three Ray brothers won a federal court battle to attend public school but were effectively driven out of town when their house was set ablaze.

Why didn’t their story break my heart as much as, if not more, than Ryan’s story did? Proximity. It is human nature to be affected most greatly by local glory and local tragedy. We tend to feel disconnected from events that happen in distant lands. Although Ryan lived over 300 miles away, I was under the impression that he was just next door or just over in the next town. (I went to school in Illinois, Ryan in Indiana.) The Ray brothers were all the way down in Flordia. Being young, I didn’t have any idea that people in Africa and Asia were suffering from the same condition and even worse dicrimination. As an adult, I now realize that problems are universal. We must do all that we can to help our fellow human beings. Borders and oceans are more traversable now than ever.

As you probably know, tomorrow, December 1st, 2006, will be the nineteenth annual World AIDS Day. The World Health Organization (WHO) established World AIDS Day in 1988 to heighten HIV/AIDS awareness and to encourage governments, charities, communities, and individuals worldwide to tackle the growing HIV/AIDS crisis.

Magic Johnson made an appearance on the Oprah show last month to spread the word about the importance of AIDS education and affordable medication. He also expressed his strong belief that he is alive today because of his vigorous daily exercise regime coupled with an ultra-healthy diet, rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. Seeing how hard he works, how well he eats, and how healthy he looks made quite an impression. He is living with HIV, showing that it doesn’t have to be a death sentence.

In that same vein, UNICEF is currently running public service announcements featuring other professional athletes like David Beckham, Yao Ming and LeBron James. These PSAs are broadcast in English, Spanish, German, Chinese and Russian in the hopes that these athletes will be able to capture the attention of young viewers throughout the world who idolize them. One goal of the ad campaign is to increase the availability of pediatric AIDS treatment. Today less than 5% of the children who need treatment have access to it. Because HIV infection is faster and more aggressive in children, it is imperative that children be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Over 20 million people throughout the world have died as a result of AIDS since it was first given a name in 1984. (Some sources say that an additional 5 million more have died from AIDS-related illnesses but may not have been properly diagnosed.) There are currently at least 39 million people infected with HIV/AIDS (plus another possible million who remain undiagnosed), and 90% of them reside in developing countries.

Retroviral medication is unavailable to 90% of those who are currently infected. Clean water, fresh food, and adequate sanitation are out of reach for over 1.3 billion people worldwide, lending to a wider spread of illnesses like malaria, dysentary, and hepatitis.

In many developing nations, AIDS is not discussed – not ever – no matter what. Meanwhile others simply refer to it as “A.” It is shameful. People infected with the virus are often labeled as immoral or dirty people, sometimes by their very own families and friends. Women are often doomed to become infected because their domineering husbands refuse to wear protection, refuse to remain faithful and refuse to be tested for HIV. This epidemic will continue to spread as long as world leaders reject the power of preventative measures such as HIV/AIDS education, condom distribution and the need for healthy food and water for everyone.

Despite being one of the richest nations on the planet, the United States lags far behind in the distribution of foreign aid. We contribute, as a nation, less than 0.16% of our gross nation income to less fortunate people. However, you and I as individual citizens don’t have to follow our government’s example. We can contribute a larger portion of our incomes (1% or 5% or 10%), tax-deductible and without government red tape. If you can’t afford a financial contribution, you can contribute your time instead; write to your government leaders and encourage them to support AIDS- related relief programs and foreign aid legislation.

Tomorrow, December 1st, is the perfect day to make a contribution to a charity that works on the front lines against AIDS. Even if you don’t know someone who has died of HIV/AIDS or someone who is infected, I would like to encourage you to please open up you heart and your wallet. Any donation –no matter how small- will help someone somewhere.

Here are links to some of the most active organizations fighting HIV/AIDS:
FightGlobalAIDS.org
UNICEF.org
TheGlobalFund.org
CARE.org
DoctorsWithoutBorders.org
ONE.org
Data.org
WorldVision.org

Remember that your donation will be tax-deductible. If you haven’t donated your share to charity this year, don’t wait until the last minute!

[During the 1990’s, I read that Ryan White and two of the Ray brothers, Ricky and Robert, lost their battles with AIDS. And around that same time I learned that my co-worker , Roy, was suffering from AIDS. Tomorrow I will dedicate my money and my thoughts to Randy Ray, the surviving Ray brother; Roy, who didn’t survive; and all other HIV sufferers worldwide. May you all have access to all the resources you need.]