World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day.

The bare figures of the estimated death toll fom this syndrome are now shocking in themselves, even before we begin to think about the social and economic consequences, particularly in developing countries. This from the Wikipedia entry linked above-

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the global AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2005 of which, more than half a million (570,000) were children.

In the UK, one of the main, and most longstanding AIDS awareness organisations and charities is the Terrence Higgins Trust, named after one of the first people in Britain to die of the condition, back in 1982.

Top Ten Green Blogger Student Medic writes on the issue here on the Life is complicated yet beautifully simple blog.