More than 25 million people around the world have died of AIDS-related diseases. That's approximately forty times the population of this state. Nearly twice that number are now living with HIV, and most of these are likely to die over the next decade or so. In 2005, about 3.1 million men, women and HYPERLINK "http://www.avert.org/children.htm" children lost their lives to the disease.

It is disappointing that the global number of people infected with HIV continues to rise, despite the fact that effective prevention strategies already exist. World AIDS Day was conceived and adopted unanimously by 140 countries in January of 1988 to demonstrate the importance they attached to the fight against AIDS and their solidarity in this effort.

UAF Student Activities Office (SAO) manned a booth in observance of World AIDS Day, providing HIV information and free contraception. A representative from the Interior Aids Association (IAA) was also there to help. SAO also screened an AIDS awareness film, ABC Africa.

Sadly, it is in HYPERLINK "http://www.avert.org/aafrica.htm" Africa, in some of the poorest countries in the world, that the impact of the virus has been most severe, but increasing prevalence rates are not inevitable. In HYPERLINK "http://www.avert.org/aidsuganda.htm" Uganda the estimated prevalence rate fell to around 5 percent from a peak of close to 14 percent in the early 1990s.

Uganda is where documentary maker, Abbas Kiarostami and his team examined the lives of the children orphaned in Uganda as a result of civil war and the AIDS epidemic in Africa. In spite of the subject matter, Kiarostami floods this film with warm colors and bright moments.

As Kiarostami's team pulls into Kampala, roadside billboards encourage the use of condoms to quell the spread of HIV and AIDS; a cautionary warning to a nation of 22 million people with those two diseases affecting nearly 2 million. There is a strange kind of playfulness and joy reflected in the faces of the children when the cameras are pointed in their direction. You can't help but wonder, "How can this be?" These are after all just children like millions of others all over the world when they are the center of attention. Another explanation might be that these children and adults must snatch every lighthearted moment possible. Doctors and nurses in the hospitals offer smiles as they go about the interminable tasks of caring for the dying under egregious circumstances.

The camera eases us into a coffin factory, and at another time, an AIDS care center. We sit in somber silence as a very young child's body is wrapped in cloth and placed in a cardboard coffin. The taxi driver in the movie, on the way home when asked about AIDS, warned that "Once people use condoms, promiscuity is promoted." The crew is plunged into harrowing moments of pitch-blackness when the electricity fails at the hotel late at night. The 30-strong audience seemed uncomfortable. With 1.5 million children who have lost one or both parents to war and disease, grandmothers are responsible for their care. The IFAD program helps supplement their income to care for these orphans. We meet some of the women who open their homes and hearts, caring for as many as 5 to 35 children at a time.

Michael DeNicolai, a geography student, recalled his distraction and unease at the director walking in several shots himself with his intrusive flashy camera equipment. "Do the African children ever wonder, ‘where's our posh camera?''' This invasive element was found to be at the least distracting, and even made one question the veracity of the reactions seen on screen, but never questioned whether or not the terrible truth was being told.   

History major Caleb Kuntz was extremely thankful that UAF contributed to this much-needed awareness. Kuntz didn't know that there was a global AIDS Day until today."It was definitely a good idea to show the film and have the informative booth. I have a much better understanding now," he said.

When asking students about the general attitude at UAF on the biggest epidemic in modern history, Kuntz recalled that"many people just don't care because it's not in your face all the time; out of sight, out of mind.''

It seems this mindset may soon become a thing of the past, as AIDS worker Megan Gerson related. She said that"government and AIDS agency predictions show that Western Europe and India are going to be the next Africa.''

Gerson has been involved in publicizing the issue of AIDS for a large part of her life. Having spent a portion of her education studying at UAF, she is now Health Specialist at the United States International Development's Office of HIV/AIDS in Washington D.C. She provides support to HIV/AIDS programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Uganda. Gerson is only 27, but she is passionate when she talks about her decision to become involved in the issue."I'm not going to solve the problem; sometimes it's hard to see that you are making a difference," she said."But if someone was to ask me 50 years from now, ‘What did you do about AIDS?' I couldn't live with myself if I did nothing."

If you have ever wondered what is involved when getting tested for a sexually transmitted disease at the center for Health and Counseling, there is a counseling service, by appointment only. There is also extensive help on how to use contraception and in following the do's and don'ts of safe sex rules, which doesn't mean that sex cannot be fun.

The main message is if you're going to have sex, be smart and be safe. Call the UAF Center for Health and Counseling at 474-7043, or the IAA for any questions or concerns.

From the IAA there are many services. There is free HIV testing every Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Call 452-4222 to ensure that someone is there to conduct the test.) They also provide housing opportunities for people with AIDS, and this is far from being a comprehensive list.

Help stop AIDS. Keep the promise made over the last decades. Wear the red ribbon as a demonstration of your concern about and commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic. The red ribbon is a symbol of hope that a cure will be found and a symbol of support for those living with and those working to stop the spread of HIV.

And if you want to learn more about different aspects of the AIDS issue, Student Activities Office has some interesting films.