Topic: A Closer Walk
I really enjoyed watching “A Closer Walk.” One of my uncles died from complications of AIDS back in 1992, so watching this video really hit home to me. I never really had the opportunity to know my uncle since I was only three when he died, but I’ve heard his story many times. It’s a sad yet uplifting story, and no journal entry could do his story justice.
Every eight seconds someone dies of HIV/AIDS, and HIV/AIDS has claimed the lives of over 25 million people. South Africa has the highest population of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. South Africa’s first reported cause of HIV/AIDS was back in 1982, and the most rapid increase in South Africa’s HIV/AIDS prevalence took place between 1993 and 2000.
While I knew that HIV/AIDS was a huge problem in African countries, I had no idea that it was such a huge problem in countries like Ukraine and India. In Ukraine, most HIV/AIDS cases occur from the sharing of needles during drug use. Organizations in Ukraine are participating in “needle exchange programs” where they give out sterile needles and syringes to drug users. They’re doing this so that each IDU (injecting drug user) can have their own needle and won't have to share with another IDU.
I think it’s amazing and inspiring that so many organizations, like Grassroots Soccer, are trying to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. I can only hope that years and years from now, no family will ever have to go through what my family did when my uncle’s life was cut short from AIDS.
Grassroot Soccer Logo:
HIV/AIDS Awareness Ribbon:
Bono for the Join Red Campaign:
No comments:
Post a Comment