While finding a cure for AIDS might not be just around the corner, education and awareness of the disease could put the world leaps ahead on the path to its eradication.
Area organizations joined others around the globe Monday in commemorating World AIDS Day. In an effort to raise awareness about acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, groups remembered lives lost to the disease through reflection and symbolic gestures, such as tying red ribbons on trees around campus.
It is unfortunate how many people are desensitized to the reality of AIDS. Many have become used to the overwhelming numbers and statistics surrounding the disease, such as the 25 million people who have died worldwide from AIDS or the 18 million AIDS-related deaths in Africa alone.
But it's important we realize the statistics represent real people dealing with a real, life-threatening disease. There are many numbers associated with AIDS, but they need to reflect everyone affected by the disease, not just those infected with the disease. Friends and family often suffer alongside the victim.
It's also important to continue promoting awareness and tolerance of the facts about AIDS and those living with the disease. Education is an important weapon in the fight against AIDS, both within the United States and abroad.
One particularly frightening statistic is that 20,000 new HIV infections occur each year among those younger than 25 in the United States, according to the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
This shows that, in order to stop the spread of the disease, AIDS education should be made a priority. The American youth need exposure through sexual education just as much as underdeveloped nations do. Education is one step to eradicating the disease.
Another important step toward AIDS eradication is continuing research to find relief medication and, eventually, a cure. With as many as 40 million people around the world reported to be living with HIV or AIDS, pharmaceutical research should focus on ways to cure the disease instead of just producing drugs that put a Band-Aid on the problem.
But eradication of AIDS also requires eradication of the stereotypes associated with the disease. Unfortunately, the misconceptions about AIDS almost have become an epidemic by themselves.
"There is a lot of ideas out there that this is God's retribution - his retribution against evil people," said Patrick Lombardi, the director of volunteer services at the Lansing Area AIDS Network.
It is time the people harboring such stereotypes opened their minds and realized AIDS is a life-threatening illness, not a punishment. AIDS can happen to anyone.
Everyone can lend a hand in helping to stop the spread of AIDS by practicing safe sex and by getting tested. Free and often anonymous testing is available at many local clinics and the process can be as painless as wiping a cotton swab inside the mouth.
Until a cure is found, education and awareness are the best defenses against the spread of AIDS - and even better, they're defenses all of us can practice.
