Donovan’s younger brother was 13 when he was diagnosed with HIV. He did all he could to save his little brother, even working in HIV/AIDS prevention and supporting his single mom. Yet, after the teenager’s condition deteriorated and forced him to quit school, he lost his health insurance and died just shy of his 24th birthday at the age of 23.

Donovan’s younger brother did not live in some hidden, forgotten corner of the developing world. He lived in the United States of America. And he is one of over 500,000 people who have died from AIDS since the disease was formally recognized by the United States in 1981.

Recent events in my life have reminded me that those who live with HIV/AIDS are all around us, and all too often face societal stigmas that can cost them their home, job or more. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that as of 2003 (the most recent data available), over 1 million people were living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. alone. Nearly three-quarters of this population are men, nearly half are black, and approximately the same number are men who have sex with men (MSM). Disturbingly, one-fourth do not even know they’re infected.

The National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA), which told Donovan’s story above, prefers that those living with HIV/AIDS be described as what they are — people, not “patients” or “victims”. NAPWA is the oldest national AIDS organization and “the first network of people living with HIV and AIDS in the world.”

Clearly, we could all do more for our fellow Americans who live with HIV and AIDS. More on the continuing (and often bumpy) search for viable treatments and the importance of accurate reporting.

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Our Common Concern :: a socially conscious blog