Protestors held a mock funeral procession in front of the White House Tuesday, mourning those who have died of AIDS. (Rachel Claytor/MNS)
WASHINGTON-Tuesday marked World AIDS Day and many HIV/AIDS groups reflected on what is working to stop the spread of infection and what needs to change. Globally, AIDS-related deaths are decreasing and the rate of HIV infection is slowing, according to the most recent AIDS Epidemic Update published by UNAIDS. HIV mortality rates have decreased in sub- Saharan Africa by 18 percent since 2004.
Groups like Africa Action and Global AIDS Alliance say an amping up of funding over the past four years has made a huge difference in the fight to reduce HIV infections. But they warn there is still a lot of progress to be made. Thirty-three million people worldwide are living with HIV, and 2.1 million AIDS deaths occurred in 2008 alone.
Domestically, there hasn’t been as much progress as expected. In the nation’s capitol, HIV/AIDS is considered a “severe epidemic”. And it’s hitting some populations harder than others. One in every seven black men in Washington, is infected with HIV. AIDS is the number one killer of African-American women between the ages of 15-24.
Karen Pomerance does outreach for the Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association and admits there is much work to be done in education the community. But she says the government needs to provide funding for AIDS groups that provide services to people with HIV.
“There is a tremendous need for education, and a tremendous need to decrease stigma. All those things are important. But you need the money. You can do as much education but if you don’t give people jobs and housing and a future, then it just doesn’t really matter,” she said.