World AIDS Day: The risk is not knowing
Solidarity against stigma #LetsEndIt
World Aids Day, celebrated on the first of December every year, is a chance for people across the globe to come together and express their solidarity toward those battling HIV.
HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, attacks the body’s immune system, thereby making the human more susceptible to common diseases. AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, refers to the set of symptoms that are caused by the HIV Virus.
While the physical effects are widely known, the psychological effects are not considered of equal consequence. There is still a lot of stigma surrounding AIDS. People who have contracted the disease are looked at a little ‘differently’.
This tends to apply even more in the case of children. They are bullied, and not really allowed to partake in any sporting activity.
Researchers have discovered that people with HIV are at more risk of developing a mood, cognitive or anxiety disorder. While 5–10% of the human population suffers from major depression, this number shoots up to 36% among people with HIV. Women with HIV are twice as likely to be depressed as men! This arises out of social rejection, and a sense of self rejection in general.
That being said, help is definitely on the way. With the advent of the internet and media in general, people are now armed with more information than ever before. This has helped eliminate a lot of the stigma surrounding the HIV afflicted, and has helped to bring their lives a little closer to normalcy.
This World AIDS Day, reach out to someone who you know is affected. Make them feel like they belong. Leave no man or woman behind. Let’s all come together to form one big red ribbon.
