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- Show loop!
- The meaning of the world AIDS day
- AIDS & HIV - the facts
- What is AIDS or HIV?
- Prejudices in everyday life and what is really behind it
- The goals of the UNAIDS organization in the fight for AIDS & HIV by 2015
- Bono and the (PRODUCT) RED Apple Project
- The RED Apple products
Show loop!
AIDS. What is going on in you when you hear that word? Do feelings like fear or fear of contact come to you? It seems like a death sentence for us at first to be suffering from AIDS. Having contact with AIDS patients is often characterized by concern about being infected with rejection and exclusion. On the first Sunday of Advent 2013 is World AIDS Day and we want to show that a reluctance to get in touch with AIDS patients and those infected with HIV is unnecessary. Show also solidarity and oppose any form of discrimination and social stigma in everyday life.
The meaning of the world AIDS day
All over the world, the general population and politics are being made aware of AIDS and the HIV virus on this day. International organizations and brands and their ambassadors call for active participation and solidarity with people living with HIV, those with AIDS and their relatives. Whether with the AIDS ribbon, as an ambassador or through the support of projects. Because it is important to remember that the pandemic still exists.
For the first time, World AIDS Day was proclaimed by the WHO in 1988. Since 1996, the United Nations Organization against AIDS - UNAIDS - has organized this day. Each World AIDS Day has been given a special motto since its inception. This year's Remembrance Day is themed "Zero Discrimination".
For this purpose, UNAIDS was able to win the Nobel Peace Prize winner and politician Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as an ambassador against the discrimination of AIDS patients and HIV-infected people. She has been campaigning for non-violent democratization in her home country of Myanmar since the 1980s.
AIDS & HIV - the facts
What is AIDS or HIV?
AIDS
AIDS stands for an "acquired immune deficiency syndrome" (dt.), Which is triggered by the HIV virus. This syndrome combines specific symptoms that occur in the destruction of the human immune system. It comes to life-threatening infections and tumors. AIDS can be treated by medication, but can not be cured.
HIV
HIV, also known as the human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that, if left untreated, leads to AIDS. The treachery of this virus is that it can exist in the body completely symptom-free over a different period of time. The infection is also medically treatable.
Prejudices in everyday life and what is really behind it
If you come into contact with people living with HIV or AIDS for work or pleasure, do not be put off immediately. There is no reason for that. In general, HIV-positive people are no danger of infection for others in everyday use.
For most HIV-infected people who are being treated with medication, the viral load (which describes the amount of virus in the blood) is even below the detection limit of 50-20 copies per milliliter.
Shake hands, hug, kiss, eat from the same plate or cutlery, drink from the same cup - all these are not sources of infection.
1. Prejudice: "These are all gays or junkies."
Unfortunately, this thinking is still widespread. But it is important to know that AIDS spreads through all strata and also among heterosexuals.
2. Prejudice: Frequently changing sexual partners
Again, we do not need to point our fingers at the homosexual scene. As I said, the virus also spreads among heterosexuals for many reasons.
3. Prejudice: "blame yourself"
They are to blame themselves because they are not paying attention or having too many sexual partners, etc.
However, there are also situations, such as accidents and blood transfusions, for which you can do nothing and in which one is infected. Or relationships in a partnership that are not cleared up. Or, or, or ...
To put oneself down and say "blame yourself" is too easy.
Prejudice: "HIV-infected or AIDS patients are simple."
They have no education and are poor. This prejudice is definitely obsolete. HIV / AIDS runs through all walks of life, whether simple or intellectual, whether poor or rich.
It is therefore important to recognize that education and active protection through condoms during sexual intercourse and clean needles in vaccinations, blood transfusions and drug use are the only ways to prevent infection. Of course, there are therapies for AIDS. But the drugs have strong side effects. Preferably damage the kidney or liver. And that's why you should protect yourself preventively!
The goals of the UNAIDS organization in the fight for AIDS & HIV by 2015
Sexual transmission of the HIV virus is expected to decrease by 50% by 2015.
* The transmission of HIV should be reduced by 50% by 2015 among drug addicts.
* By 2015 there should be no new infections of HIV in children.
* 15 million people suffering from AIDS should have access to life-saving forms of treatment such as medicines by 2015.
* The tuberculosis death rate of HIV-infected people should be reduced by 50% by 2015.
* By 2015, financial resources ($ 22-24 billion) will be earmarked for support mainly to developing and emerging countries where the infection rate is highest.
* By 2015 gender inequalities and abuses of women should be abolished and girls and women should be educated about how to prevent infection with HIV.
* In 2015, there should no longer be any social and legal stigmatization and discrimination against HIV-infected and AIDS-sufferers worldwide.
* The travel, immigration and residence conditions for HIV-infected people and people with AIDS should also be lifted by 2015.
* In the next two years, the UNAIDS organization wants to strengthen the integration of people living with HIV and AIDS.
Bono and the (PRODUCT) RED Apple Project
Bono - singer and frontman of the band U2 - uses his international reputation and has been involved politically and socially for decades. One of his main concerns is the fight against AIDS in Africa.
For this year's World AIDS Day, Bono will be the ambassador for the (PRODUCT) RED Apple products .
The RED Apple products
Among other things, the Global Fund RED is cooperating with the Apple brand to fight for a generation without AIDS by 2015. The means to an end: merchandise products. In the case of Apple, the products iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod Touch, iPad Smart Cover, iPad Smart Case, iPhone 4s Bumper, iPhone 5s Case in the typical red.
Part of the proceeds from the sale of these products goes to the Global Fund, which supports AIDS relief programs in Africa.
Since its introduction, RED has been made up of brands such as SAP, Coca Cola, Starbucks, beats by dr. dre and Apple can take over 215 million US dollars. Of these, the latter brand alone handed over $ 65 million in the fight against AIDS to the Global Fund.
Bono thanked the company Apple on the short message service Twitter for his commitment.
