Have you ever wondered why the world celebrates AIDS day on 1 December, the last month of the year? Why keep something so important for the end of the year, when most of us are busy making plans for the upcoming New Year? Set exactly thirty one days before the beginning of a new year, it could be because they wanted the world to keep in mind the danger that lurked behind. So this year before you start making your annual resolutions, keep in mind what you as an individual could do to stop the pandemic.

In the last decade of my life, I had only heard of HIV/AIDS, but this year I saw its human face. I was anxious before meeting, if I may say so, 'them'. Like first steps are always scary, so was coming face to face for the first time with someone who was infected with a virus that had the world worried. I wasn't being judgemental nor was I discriminating but it was just this unexplainable apprehension. But on meeting with them, I realised how futile those fears were. In fact I was pleasantly surprised by the zest they had for life and the immense amount of hope they had for better days to come. I realised that minus the virus, they were as normal as any other person walking on the street. This incident made me question if it's us, the healthy, that need counselling against the disease. If we stopped drawing a line between us and them and came together to fight the disease we will succeed in the future.

This year's theme for 1 December is: Stop Aids. Keep the Promise. Take the Leadership. So take the lead this month onwards, to talk and make yourselves and your surroundings more aware about HIV and AIDS. Your small attempt will make a lot of difference, for the more you know, the more you're able to do.

C2