Just a little reminder that December 1st is the World AIDS day. Still millions of people are dying of this terrible disease due to lack of knowledge and mostly lack of money for necessary treatment. Since anti-retroviral treatment has been available in the rich nations AIDS has moved much out of the focus of international attention. Thanks to the various AIDS charity organisations and famous people like Nelson Mandela, Annie Lennox, Elton John and Queen people have a chance to get the treatment they need.
So please - if your Christmas charity budget allows for a little additional donation - you can still sponsor another star on the donation page of the Mercury Phoenix Trust
I was pleasantly surprised to read in the papers today that HIV infections have decreased in my city.
HIV: Positive news for Mumbai
Data from the Mumbai Districts of AIDS Control Society (MDACS) shows that HIV infection rates in the city are dropping. Once known as the HIV capital of India, Mumbai has recorded lower scores for all groups, including pregnant women, sex workers and their clients. While in 2002, 17% of the men who got themselves tested were positive for HIV, in 2009, till October, only 8.6% of those who were tested proved positive. The all-India figures too show the same trend.