Bethina Abrahams's Blog

Posted by Bethina Abrahams

Kristin Davis of "Sex and the City" fame recently teamed up with Oxfam to address the stigma that surrounds AIDS in South Africa. As an Oxfam Ambassador, Davis has had the opportunity to see how much of the work in the HIV/AIDS field has been carried out. To draw attention to the efforts, as well as the barriers that still remain-specifically that of stigma-Davis spoke at a news conference with members of the Treatment Action Campaign and the AIDS Consortium.

Posted by Bethina Abrahams

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was created to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in the Black community. The perception traditionally has been that HIV/AIDS is a disease of the gay community and of IV drug users. However, recent statistics have shown that HIV/AIDS is really everyone's burden and this is especially true of the Black communities. With the African Americans being disproportionately represented among new cases in many parts of the states, it is imperative that Black communities and health services focus on education and prevention. In honour of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, many free testing stations are being set up at health clinics and churches throughout the United States. The push is for people to become educated around HIV/AIDS, to get tested, and if need be, get treated.

Posted by Bethina Abrahams

Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Chinese forward Dong Fangzhuo of Manchester United took part in an awareness raising campaign by Unicef in China. The three players met with children impacted by AIDS in the hopes of lifting the stigma that shrouds the topic of AIDS in China. In China, many children who have family members with HIV/AIDS are forced to lie about the situation for fear of becoming socially isolated. The Manchester United players were hoping that their involvement would educate the public, shed light on the situation, and allow people to begin living their lives in the open without fear from their communities.