On December 1st of every year, we take a day to recognize a disease which has ravaged many communities and populations. This year, the fight to end HIV/AIDS, has taken a backseat to COVID. Resources and medical professionals have been shifted away from HIV/AIDS care and prevention to deal with a new virus. Unfortunately, this has left many people in desperate need of medical attention.
During 2020, approximately 12 million people are waiting to receive care for HIV. (HIV is the virus which causes AIDS.) One of the places most hit by HIV/AIDS this year has been South Africa. There have been about 225,000 people with HIV/AIDS in the South African province of Gauteng who have discontinued their anti-retroviral treatments this year due to decreased access to care and other issues which have arisen from COVID. This is just one province in one country afflicted by HIV/AIDS.
It is hard to calculate how many people have not sought treatment for HIV/AIDS worldwide due to shortages of medical staff, testing, resources and other difficulties which have arisen due to COVID. The year 2030 was the year slated in which HIV/AIDS would be eradicated from the world. However, COVID has delayed progress on medical treatments, resources and research. At this moment, it is hard to know how far back the fight against HIV/AIDS has been pushed, but countless people have been affected.
Please take this day to remember those around the world affected by HIV/AIDS. There are about 38 million people around the world infected with HIV. Pray for the approximately 700,000 people who will die from AIDS-related complications this year. Pray for the areas of the world most afflicted by this virus—South Africa, sub-Saharan African countries, China, Latin America and the Caribbean. Pray that access to testing and medical treatments will be readily available to those who need them. As for me, I keep praying that some day soon this virus be nothing more than a distant memory.
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