World AIDS Day 2001

Written by Ray Steen, Staff Writer, RedCross.org

November 29, 2001 — "We still have a problem and it's not going away." Guest speaker Jose Meléndez's message rang loud and clear at Thursday's American Red Cross program, held in recognition of World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.

Meléndez is the Midwest Regional Field Manager for the National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organization. He was invited to the Red Cross event to speak about the dangers and challenges people face with HIV and AIDS.

The program marks the tenth year that the Red Cross has sponsored the event, which helps provide Red Cross volunteers and employees with a greater understanding about the role of the Red Cross in HIV education and prevention.

Since 1988, the Red Cross has observed Dec. 1 as World AIDS Day. The day is reserved to acknowledge the toll HIV has taken on people worldwide. It also is a time to recognize the lifesaving medical and educational advances that have been made to combat this disease.

This year, World AIDS Day voices the theme, "I Care…Do You? Youth and AIDS in the 21st Century."

"We should care because people are affected," said Darlene Washington, director of disease prevention education for the Red Cross. The disease that was officially discovered in 1981 has infected approximately 1 million people in the United States alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 5.3 million newly reported HIV infections since 1999.

The goal of World AIDS Day 2001 is to raise awareness worldwide that youth are suffering directly and indirectly from HIV infection, Washington said.

"There must be more involvement in targeting their own peer groups," Scott Conner, vice president of Health, Safety and Community Services for the Red Cross, added.

The toll the disease has taken on the world's youngest and most vulnerable people is staggering. AIDS has orphaned 7.1 million children, and infected another 1.3 million infants and children. The CDC also reports that young people under the age of 25 represent half of all new HIV infection cases. Ten million people worldwide between the ages of 15 and 24 are living with HIV/AIDS, and every minute five young people are infected with HIV.

In 1985, experts realized that the disease was infectious, and since then the Red Cross has responded proactively with AIDS and HIV education efforts. The nonprofit organization has reached more than 18 million people in the United States alone.

Today the Red Cross continues to fight the disease. The Red Cross Disease Prevention Education (DPE) Division, launched in July 2001, created the HIV Prevention Network. The network includes six Red Cross AIDS public health professionals who work with Red Cross chapters and other community organizations to bring HIV preventative programs to communities. Programs target youth, Hispanics and African Americans.

"We will continue to enhance and improve our programs and to address the needs of those most at risk," said George Castrataro, manager of the DPE.