Nancy A Draper

World AIDS Day is on December 1, 2009. This is a day when people throughout the world remember those loved ones who have died from this vicious virus. What will you do to remember people like Ryan White, Authur Ashe, Rock Hudson, women, men, children and babies who lost their lives too soon from a disease that can be prevented with proper education? If we stop talking about AIDS, it tends to get ignored. We must not let that happen. Please share some of the activities you will participate in on World AIDS Day. Remember that AIDS is an Equal Opportunity Disease.

To some extent, AIDS has fallen off the radar screen in America. People aren't talking about it as much as they did 8 or 9 years ago. We can't let that happen. We must keep it in the limelight. AIDS is still on a war path in the United States and throughout the world. AIDS has been called the "Greatest humanitarian catastrophe of our time." 

Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan stated, "Experts now agree that HIV/AIDS is the worst epidemic history has ever faced. Yet, among the people at large, there is still a profound lack of knowledge and awareness, especially among young people."

Many people of different ages are not protecting themselves against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV. There is a lack of education in the schools and at home. We must keep talking about HIV/AIDS. It's a preventable disease. No one should have to suffer from AIDS; especially after 29 years of the beginning of the pandemic.

My mother was a victim of AIDS after receiving an HIV contaminated blood transfusion during heart bypass surgery. She suffered in silence because she feared rejection from people. She felt like a leper. No one should have to feel this way. My mother was 61 when she contracted AIDS from a transfusion. She died at the age of 69. I'll do whatever I can to make this country aware of the need to educate people so we can cut down the HIV infection rate.

What are your thoughts as to how we can educate people in America about this vicious disease that has taken the lives of so many people?

Should schools do more to educate the students? Should parents participate more in AIDS education with their children? Please suggest some answers. We can't go on losing more lives.