The 1st December 2012 marks World AIDS Day, and this year we arrive at a significant crossroads. For the first time in history the end of AIDS is in sight. Isn’t that something worth celebrating? Absolutely! But there is still much more to be done, and here’s why…
According to the most recent global report on HIV/AIDS from UNAIDS, we have witnessed a 24% decrease in AIDS-related deaths globally since 2005. Along with this, access to HIV treatment (known as antiretroviral treatment) has increased globally by 63% from 2009-2011- meaning that over 8 million people living with HIV currently have access to this life-saving antiretroviral treatment.
These are big strides forward in the response to the HIV epidemic, and shouldn’t be underestimated. They highlight the outstanding developments that have been made in tackling this global issue in recent years. Evidently, we have the capabilities to tackle HIV/AIDS at a significant scale.
However, although these statistics are important and should be celebrated, there is still so much more to do. We have the capacity and the technology to bring even greater change – but only if we take the opportunity presented before us right now. What we have already achieved is brilliant, but should not make us complacent about what still needs to be done.
After all, three out of every four children living with HIV are still without access to treatment.
At Chasing Zero, we have a big vision. We are giving everything we’ve got to building a world where the number of AIDS-related deaths is reduced to ZERO. Improving access to treatment is pivotal to this, and can be as simple as providing transport to and from hospitals, or training local volunteers to visit people in the comfort of their homes.
That is why in order to play our part in this global ambition, Chasing Zero is working to improve access to treatment and help overcome one of the largest obstacles of the HIV epidemic. In fact, our 5-year aim is to provide 1 million people living with HIV with access to antiretroviral treatment and care.
By working to provide this access to communities located in hard to reach, rural parts of the world, AIDS-related deaths will continue to fall, whilst the spread of HIV significantly reduced.
This coming Saturday, 1st December is World AIDS day. And we are taking a stand- with ice cream!
Eat Ice Cream. Share Photos. Help Save Lives.
On the 1st December 2012, Chasing Zero is launching the campaign and web-app ‘Freeze AIDS’ which is a really simple and fun way to get involved with World AIDS Day 2012. It just takes 3 simple steps….and guess what? It involves ice cream!
All you need to do is…
1.Get some ice cream.
2.On your ice cream, squeeze a red ribbon (as shown) with some strawberry sauce.
3.Take a picture and upload to Freeze-AIDS through twitter, email, text or their website.
By joining in with Freeze AIDS this World AIDS Day, you will be helping to raise awareness of the significant opportunity we have right now as a global community. You will be joining with thousands of people who are part of ‘the Chase’ and believe that we could be the generation to bring about the end of AIDS.
Find out more about Freeze Aids.
Today’s guest blog is by Joel Wallington - Chief Executive of Chasing Zero. |
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