It may seem rather early to start talking about World AIDS Day - traditionally on 1 December every year. But October is almost finished and from November,world and local focus turns to HIV. Given the fact that South Africa loses the equivalent of two Jumbo jets worth of people every day to AIDS, most people show little real interest in the pandemic. There is still startling ignorance about HIV and AIDS and ignorance breeds stigma. There is also compassion fatigue - the reason that aid agencies increasingly struggle to get funding across the world. People are simply tired of dealing with the daily misery and so no longer reach into their pockets. But you don't always have to dig into your pocket. Indeed, it is often all too easy to simply pay away your concience about other's ills. This year's World AIDS Day theme is "leadership" - and not simply leadership by governments, but by ordinary people. As we start the run up to 1 December, start to think about ways in which you, as an individual, can make a difference to the HIV and AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. You will be surprised by how innovative you can be.
Bridget Farham, https://www.bizcommunity.com