Victoria World AIDS Day
A flash mob at Victoria’s Bay Centre to mark World Aids Day shows how attitudes towards the disease had changed since it was first discovered, 30 years ago.
“Of course AIDS is still with us,” says flash mob organizer Michael Yoder, “but we wanted to do something that is celebratory to remember the people who we’ve lost and to support the people who are still here.”
The UN says in 2009 approximately 1.8 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses compared with the roughly 2.1 million in 2004. Worldwide an estimated 34 million people are infected. Last year on Vancouver Island alone; 38 new cases.
It’s why pop stars, movie stars, world leaders, and others are sharing stories of hope and the struggle to put an end to AIDS.
US President Barack Obama told reporters today the AIDS can be beaten. “We can win this fight. We just have to keep at it, today, tomorrow, and every day until we get to zero.”
AIDS Vancouver Island says that can only happen by reaching out to the 26 percent of the HIV populations who don’t know they are infected.
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