World Aids Day

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the immune system, weakening its defence against disease. If detected early, it can be successfully managed. It is passed through HIV-infected blood, sexual or rectal fluids, or breast milk. People with HIV can enjoy a normal lifespan, albeit with serious health risks. A person is considered to have Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids) when their immune system becomes so weak that it can no longer defend itself against diseases with which it could normally cope. If HIV is diagnosed late, Aids is harder to prevent.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the recognition of Aids and the beginning of HIV surveillance worldwide.
Since first documented in 1981, Aids has killed more than 25 million worldwide.
Today there are almost 40 million people living with HIV worldwide - almost three million more than in 2004.
So far this year, there have been 4.3 million new infections worldwide and 2.9 million have died of Aids-related illnesses.
By the end of 2005, an estimated 64, 000 adults were living with HIV in Britain - of whom 20,000 were unaware of their infection. (Statistics from the World Health Organisation and the Health Protection Agency.)

Naturally we are concerned about the UK and we probably think Africa has the biggest problem
but the latest statistics suggest that India is not far behind.

There is disturbing news from China too. A leading activist there is quoted as saying that the authorities. are asleep in the face of the spread of the virus throughout the country. He has been arrested and kept in detention in opposition to his work. He is accused of leaking state secrets by publicising the true situation. In support of his campaigning, Wan Yanhai, has set up an organisation called Aizhixing - the characters mean love, knowledge, action, and are a play on the Chinese word for Aids.

The Church and all Christians must show compassion and care for all affected by this present day pandemic.

HIV does not respect race, class, background or sexual orientation. The condition is hard enough to live with and fight against without the added burden of unwarranted stigma being attached to it.