HIV/AIDS
and America’s Youth
One in 300 persons in the United States is infected
with HIV. 1 in 4 new HIV infections
occurs in people under the age of 20. HIV infection/AIDS
is the 2nd leading cause of death among adults
25-44. The total number of infected persons
in the United States is estimated to be from 650,000
to 900,000. This is equal to 0.3 percent of
the
US population. Approximately 30,000 children
in the United States have lost their parents
to AIDS. By the year 2000 the number of orphaned
children will exceed 80,000. Six Things PTAs can do...
1. Work with local partners to
create and promote an HIV prevention awareness
event for your community.
2. Hold a meeting for members on
talking with your children and teens about HIV/AIDS.
3. Write an article, create a fact
sheet, or develop parent tips for your PTA newsletter
or bulletin.
4. Sponsor an artwork contest using
the World AIDS Day theme and exhibit the entries
before and after World AIDS Day.
5. Encourage your school to commemorate
the event through class work focused on HIV/AIDS
information, service projects, or school-wide
assemblies.
6. Urge your school board to make
a long-term commitment to providing HIV prevention
education within a comprehensive school health
program.
Excerpted from PTA Annual Resources.
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World
AIDS Day was observed for the first time
on December 1, 1988, after a summit of health ministers
from around the world called for a spirit of social
tolerance and a greater exchange of information
on HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day, observed annually
on December 1, serves to strengthen the global
effort to face the challenges of the AIDS pandemic,
which continues to spread throughout every region
of the world. This organized effort is designed
to encourage public support for programs that prevent
the spread of HIV infection and to provide education
and awareness of issues surrounding HIV/AIDS.
The
American Association for World Health
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