MaShawn Moore, Prevention Coordinator, Denver Colorado AIDS Project
- "It is World AIDS Day — a time to remember the wonderful people who
have passed, show support for individuals who are living with the
disease, and to join the fight against HIV. It’s time to bring light to a
disease that affects us all. That simple acronym — HIV — carries so
much weight with it. But why?
I am HIV negative. I
don’t say that to be prideful or wear it as a badge of honor. I say it
for two reasons. First, I am not ashamed or uncomfortable talking about
HIV. Second, I know my status. In conversation, it seems HIV is talked
about in code or even slang. Words like dirty, bug, infected, and
biohazard are used to describe HIV-positive individuals — and the list
goes on. What if someone used those words to describe you? They don’t
sound that pleasant, do they? It is okay to say HIV, to talk about HIV,
and to feel comfortable while doing so. Saying the word HIV doesn't make
it contagious. I believe once we are comfortable talking about HIV —
and not treating it like something to be ashamed of — we will be better
equipped to reduce new infection rates.Another way to reduce the number of individuals contracting HIV is to get tested. Know your status. Yes, it can be scary, but for me there isn't a better feeling than knowing what is going on with my health. Getting tested is just a regular part of my physical upkeep.
So as this World AIDS Day comes and goes, I truly hope people can learn to be comfortable with HIV. Acknowledge it, discuss it, and know your status."
World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988.
