The HIV and AIDS pandemic is of an extremely dangerous and mutating nature, which exploits new opportunities for transmission, and is spreading rapidly, leaving in its wake the problems of those infected and affected like widows, orphaned children and overburdened elders. People living with HIV and AIDS also have to cope with denial, discrimination, stigmatization and the severe violation of human rights. There are alarming projections of the pandemic reaching unprecedented levels, and unless something drastic is done, it will result in more infections and deaths in the Asian region.
Religion and Faith have played a major role in the history of humankind. In the midst of suffering and misery, religious leaders have played significant roles in alleviating suffering and creating new communities of love, compassion and understanding. Their response to HIV and AIDS should be no different. Many ancient cultures and religions have been born in the crucible of Asia, gifting to the world a rich heritage of philosophical and religious thinking. It is time to rediscover the wealth of these ancient and noble religions and philosophies that encourage mutual tolerance, non-violence and peaceful coexistence, and promote a collective responsibility to the illness by working together, transcending geographical, political, social and religious boundaries.
In 2001, a dialogue for the creation of an Asian Interfaith Network on HIV and AIDS (AINA) in Thailand organized by the Christian Conference of Asia was followed by a sub- regional consultation of church leaders of South Asian Churches in Colombo (07/2002) and two Interfaith AIDS conferences organized in Bangkok in the years 2003 and 2004.
These brought together Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim representatives and in May 2005, AINA was formally launched regionally in Chiang Mai culminating in a Steering Committee of ten people representing different faiths and people living with HIV and AIDS, with the mission of: building caring communities, ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights, with support from Governmental and Non- Governmental agencies, international organizations, and multi-sectoral organizations whenever necessary. Its program and activities include: the study and research of the interface between faiths and the AIDS epidemic, disseminate information through a newsletter and electronic network, capacity building in training and personnel exchange and campaign on critical issues because AINA believes in the greater involvement of people living with HIV and AIDS in all programs and activities.
from AWID.net
HIV/AIDS STATISTISK SET
Af Babaylan Media Enhed
I 2005 døde 3 millioner mennesker af aids. Der er konstateret 2 gange mere AIDS/HIV.ramte kvinder end der er mænd på verdensplan. Over halvdelen af smittede findes i Afrika, syd for Sahara hvor der for hver 10 smittede mænd er tilsvarende 45 kvinder!
I Danmark: Årligt, ca. 250-300 mennesker blive hiv-positive smittet, i alt er 5.000 hivsmittede i DK, hvoraf ca.2900 personer er i behandling, og det koster 100.000 kr. om året for hver patient. Behandlingen forlænger den hiv-smittedes liv med ca.10- 20 år.. men kun når man tage medicin. Hvisman kommer først i behandling når immunforsvaret er alvorligt svækket, er den gennemsnitlige levetid kortere. I mange tilfælde vil medicinen god stadig kunne genopbygge immunforsvaret. Sidste år så vi for første gang i Danmark det højeste antal nykonstaterede hivtilfælde blandt bøsser siden 1996. En række forhold peger på en stigning i antallet af hiv-smittede bøsser: blandt andet udgør gruppen under 30 år nu 25% af det samlede antal hiv-smittede,mænd der har sex med mænd.
I Verden: I store dele af verden har mange hiv-smittede ingen adgang til medicin, og her er HIV stadig en dødelig sygdom. Omkring 39,4 millioner mennesker i verden lever i dag med HIV. Hver dag kommer næsten 14.000 nye til. Næsten halvdelen af dem er kvinder.
AIDS og Børn: Siden aids-epidemien begyndte i 1980-81, er over 20 millioner mennesker i verden døde af aids. I det sydlige Afrika har 12 millioner børn mistet den ene eller begge forældre pga. aids og børnene selv er særlig udsat –f.eks. omkring 5 millioner børn og voksne blev smittet med hiv i løbet af 2003, 2.2 millioner af børn under 15 år. HIV spreder sig hurtigt i Asien og det tidligere Sovjetunionen, men i mange år fremover vil det være Afrika, der er hårdest ramt. Indien skønnes at have 4 millioner hivsmittede. Det er flere end noget andet land i området.
HIV og gravide kvinder Hiv-smittede kvinder kan godt blive gravide og kan oftest gennemføre graviditeten uden problemer. Graviditet er ikke farlig for kvinden. Risikoen for at barnet smittes med hiv er 25 procent. Men hvis moderen får medicin under graviditeten og fødslen, får lavet kejsersnit samt undlader at amme, så er risikoen under tre procent.
Kilder: WHO, UNAIDS, UNDP, Statens Serum Institut, Aidsfondet, TICC, Crossover, m.fl.
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