'Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise-Leadership'
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: News
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"Sometimes people forget about HIV/AIDS because it's not really a death sentence as it used to be in the U.S.," said Sarah Campbell, a social worker tabling the event. "But there still are people living with HIV/AIDS; it's about supporting them, supporting awareness and bringing more attention to the issue."
Others echoed this sentiment, stating the importance of student awareness.
"It is important for students to take control of their own health and get tested and realize they have the power to do so," said Lettee Harris, program assistant in the Office Of Multicultural Affairs. "We are trying to create awareness and, at the same time, bring people on board to be activists in spreading the information that is needed about the HIV/AIDS epidemic."
The event offered students a free HIV test. This test, called the OraQuick Rapid HIV Test for Oral Fluid, provides results in 20 minutes using saliva. While students waited for their results, they were able to gather information, free condoms, stationary, pens, and free red AIDS Day ribbons.
This day is one for all individuals, groups, governments and nations to unite to educate, fight prejudice, raise money and make plans to destroy this horrible epidemic. World AIDS Day (WAD) is normally observed Dec. 1 each year, but in an effort to reach more people on campus the event was held a day early.
"HIV/AIDS is a multifaceted disease," said ETSU student Drew Robbins. "There is more to treating it than just the medicine and it is important that we make everyone aware."
Walking from the event, a commuting adult psychology student, Wendell, said, "Some people think they are 10 foot tall and bullet proof, events like this remind all that we are not immune."
We are in the third decade of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. More than 65 million people worldwide have become infected, including over 25 million who have already died. Globally, about half of those newly infected each year are under the age of 25. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is on track to be one of the worst epidemics in human history and, millions more people could become infected by the end of this decade alone, if more is not done. But HIV is preventable.