World AIDS Day

American celebrities have chosen to commemorate World AIDS Day this year with what in the era of Twitter and Facebook could be considered the ultimate sacrifice: digital death. Starting December 1, pop stars Alicia Keys, Lady GaGa, Justin Timberlake and Usher will not access their social media websites until their fans buy back their lives by donating 1 million dollars to a charity called Keep a Child Alive which funds AIDS and HIV programmes in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Hollywood estravaganza aside, this World AIDS day is an important one. The latest UNAIDS report shows that the pace of new infections has declined for the first time since the disease first emerged almost 30 years ago. In 2009, 2.6 million people were infected, 20% less than in 1999. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon marked the 29th anniversary of the World AIDS day by remembering the “untold suffering and death” caused by AIDS and by highlighting that “ another story has unfolded through the years, one of the global community uniting with passion to take action and save lives”. He stated that “ these efforts are making a real difference around the world” and “fewer people are becoming infected with HIV … With commitment and solidarity, this movement is helping the world turn the corner on the AIDS epidemic. We have finally reached the first part of Millennium Development Goal 6 — by halting and beginning to reverse the spread of HIV. We must continue to chart a new and bold path ahead. 

Non profit organisations around the world are using this day to highlight the work that still needs to be done. There are still 33.3 million people in the world infected with HIV. According to Medcins Sans Frontiers, “HIV and AIDS treatment in poor countries has taken harsh blows that mean it will be impossible to put the World Health Organisation’s guidelines into practice or take advantage of scientific progress being made in this field because the price of the medicine we need will increase unless developed countries fulfil their commitments”. Glilles van Custem, who coordinates MSF’s operations in South Africa and Lesotho, adds that “doctors like me working to save the lives of HIV positive people, have our hands tied”.

Action Aid International takes a firmer stance, saying that “according to the UN, 2010 should have been the year in which universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment was guaranteed but this is not so. Only a third of those who need treatment have access to it”.

There are a range of events taking place across the world today. To find out what is happening near you visit: www.worldaidscampaign.org