EDITORIAL - Touching lives

In 1981 the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognized a disease of the immune system that scientists now believe had been around for nearly a century. The disease was called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and there was no known vaccine or cure.

The cause of AIDS and the methods of transmittal became known. But three decades since the disease was recognized, a vaccine for AIDS still has not been developed, although there are now potent cocktails that can slow down the spread of the virus that wreaks havoc on the human immune system.

AIDS has become a pandemic, with an estimated 33.3 million people infected with HIV as of 2009 and 2.6 million new infections every year. The disease kills an estimated 1.8 million annually, with hundreds of thousands of them children. Many of the victims are in impoverished countries particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where public health care is almost non-existent.

HIV infection is also on the rise in the Philippines, although the AIDS death toll is still relatively low. This shouldn’t lull anyone into complacency. The other night candles were lit at the reclaimed area in Parañaque to commemorate those who have died of AIDS or who continue to suffer from the disease. The ceremony comes on the heels of the 28th annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, held on May 15. This year’s theme, with 115 countries participating, is “Touching lives.”

The memorial was held three weeks before the High Level Meeting on AIDS of the United Nations General Assembly. UN member states had committed 10 years ago to achieve universal access to AIDS treatment, prevention, care and support by 2010. Universal access has not been achieved, although there has been remarkable progress in HIV treatment.

This year’s candlelight memorial hopes to commit governments to achieving that universal access by 2015. Governments are also being encouraged to pass laws promoting the human rights and welfare of AIDS/HIV victims. The victims should also participate in crafting policies and programs that affect them. As important as preventing the spread of the disease is helping the victims lead meaningful lives.