Stop AIDS – Keep the Promise
Each year the World Health Organization (WHO) chooses a theme for World AIDS Day. The theme for World AIDS Day, December 1st, is "Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise". Around the world, theday is marked with candlelight vigils, educational events, access to testing and other vital information about how to stop HIV – the virus that causes AIDS.
But what is that promise? Is it a promise that I need to make with myself, that I will become an informed adult regarding how to protect myself from HIV? Yes. Is it a promise that I will talk about HIV infections and how to stop those with my circle of family and friends? Yes. Is it a promise that I will reach out and try to educate even total strangers about the toll this disease takes and let them know that preventing HIV is much easier than living with HIV? Yes. And finally, is this a promise that those we turn to as role models – celebrities, politicians, community leaders and others in leadership positions – can take to provide positive influence and be role models for society? Yes.
One has to ask, how are we doing? I would say, not too well. Back in the 1980's and up until the mid-90's, the fear of HIV infection was rampant. The specter of death encouraged many to "keep the promise" of safer sex. But today, some three generations later, many of the high-risk communities face an onslaught of ads from pharmaceutical companies promising a near normal, if not normal, lifetime of living with HIV and medication. For many who are living that life today, they would gladly trade back the thousands they spend annually on co-pays, lab tests and doctor visits for improving their housing or even taking a vacation. The cost of living with HIV is much more than simply taking a pill or two.
So on this World AIDS Day, I would ask that we again commit to that promise. Kind of an early New Year's Resolution. Here's what we can do. First, let's begin at home. Parents need to become educated about how to talk with their children honestly and practically about how to protect themselves against the risk of HIV and other STD's. The Kaiser Foundation has a great resource at http://www.talkingwithkids.org/aids.html. How about on World AIDS Day you sport a red ribbon at work. Be prepared to help educate your co-workers and others about HIV. If they have questions, they can contact the AIDSLine at (612) 373-AIDS or 1-800-248-AIDS. They can also determine if they are at risk themselves by taking a quiz at www.mnaidsproject.org or connect anonymously with a health educator at that website.
Finally, and here's a big one – let's demand accountability from our role models. Each time a politician or celebrity becomes embroiled in one these never-ending sex scandals, ask, "Was there a condom involved?" After all if we want our children to understand that there are consequences to sexual behavior, why don't we demand the same of our public role models? Why is it that each and every time there is talk of sex or even sexual activity portrayed on TV or in the movies, there is no safer sex discussion preceding? Start demanding that from the producers.We know, and they know, that sex sells. But safer sex not only sells, it saves lives. Keep the promise.
