Manic Monday: Shine

The theme for this week's Manic Monday meme is Shine. I would like to shine the light on HIV/AIDS awareness efforts in the Caribbean.

June 8 is Caribbean American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The National Planning Committee convened by Caribbean People International Collective is the lead for the Day.

HIV/AIDS has devastated the Caribbean, which ranks second only to sub-Saharan Africa for AIDS prevalence. In 2006, the United Nations estimated that 19,000 Caribbeans died of AIDS, and that an additional 250,000 were living with the virus. In 2005, there were a reported 38,133 new HIV diagnoses among Caribbean Americans in the U.S.

There are many ways that you can shine the light in response to HIV/AIDS:

1. get tested for HIV
   
2. practice safer methods to prevent HIV


3. decide not to engage in high risk behaviors


4. talk about HIV prevention with family, friends, and colleagues


5. provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS


6. subscribe to our HIV/AIDS Awareness Day groupsite

I hope that all villagers will take this opportunity to think hard on steps we can each take ... not just in the Caribbean American community ... to prevent HIV/AIDS from its continued devastation. Shine your light!