01. December 2006
December 1st 2006: International World –AIDS-Day
“Stop Aids: Keep the Promise” – today, on the 19th International World-AIDS-Day 2006, the priority of this message seems not to loose its urgency.....
Despite the many international campaigns and efforts – among them the UN Millennium Goals 2015 – still there is no control over the spreading of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), that occured for the first time over twenty years ago. The latest studies focussing on AIDS show alarming facts about the spreading of the disease through the HI-virus: whether in the crisis-region of the Sub-Sahara or Western Europe, America or Oceania – AIDS concerns the whole world!
In addition to its gradual spreading effect and the emerging physical consequences, there are the “social side-effects” of the disease as well that occur in most of the cases, such as social exclusion and discrimination. Even more alarming are reports on violence against HIV-infected persons – among those especially are women, particularly in poorer regions – as well as hunger, poverty and AIDS-infected orphans.
AIDS is one of the most dangerous and fatal diseases that the world population has to fight against. Today, the global number of AIDS-victims with fatal consequences counts more than 25 million people – and still rising. Without efficient control and containment over the spreading of the HI-virus it will not be possible to realise the Millennium Goals set by the UN – like the eradication of global poverty, hunger or educational gaps – in a long term.
So, let’s work together: “Together against AIDS. We take responsibility – for ourselves and others.”
Further links and sources:
http://www.unaids.org/en/
www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
womenandaids.unaids.org/
www.welt-aids-tag.de/
www.aids.at/
derstandard.at
Data and facts about Austria:
Referring to the latest statistics from the Österreichische Aidshilfe, there have been 2.491 AIDS-cases in Austria recorded between 1983 and October 9th 2006, with more than a half (1.491) fatal casualties.
New infections happen on a daily basis; generally, there are between 12.000 to 15.000 HIV-infected people in Austria, half of them living in the capital, one third being female and two thirds male.