Do you know that ...

More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981. There are about 14 million orphans globally and Africa has 12 million AIDS orphans (mainly in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa). By December 2004 women accounted for 47% of all people living with HIV worldwide, and for 57% in sub-Saharan Africa. Young people (15-24 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide - more than 6,000 become infected with HIV every day. 2.1 million children worldwide are HIV positive. 1, 900 children are being infected daily. Of the 6.5 million people in developing and transitional countries who need life-saving AIDS drugs, fewer than 1 million are receiving them. 660,000 children under 15 years need ARV drug but only 15-20,000 have access. In some countries HIV rates among pregnant women is 10 %. *

When we focus on HIV/AIDs we should not only think about the disease itself, but also the causes for its spread such as poverty, infant-feeding/mother-to-child transmission, drug addiction, the sex industry, and human trafficking. The magnitude of the pandemic in various regions around the world may differ, with highest cases in Sub-Saharan Africa (including AIDs orphans), though the prevention methods and solutions worldwide are similar:

- an integrated approach (supportive policies, socio-economic and health development),
- education (creating awareness and helping to reduce risky behavior); and
- the access to protective materials, drugs, as well as vaccines.

As Art4Development.Net we believe each and every one of us can make a difference -- it only requires determination! As arts groups, organizations, artisans and artists, together with development specialists, we can help create awareness on this global pandemic, educate our peers on preventive methods, and hold key decision-makers accountable for the promise they made in year 2000!

Our collaborative efforts:

• World AIDs Day Event - '05 Commemoration
• Peace Tiles Project and press release
• Peace Tiles Washington DC Workshop

  ---

  News | Articles | Links:

- Jasoos Vijay, in India, is an interactive detective television drama that aims to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.Source:Jasoos Vijay

- Kaisay Kahoon (How Shall I Say It) drama in Pakistan premiered with a launch of a clinic-based programme that counsels newlyweds on a wide range of health topics, including reproductive health, family planning, and maternal health. Source: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center CCP

- Quiet Storm [Film] presents the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in South and North East Asia. The film aims to pay tribute to the "indomitable will of millions of people living with HIV/AIDS, who fight stigma and discrimination on their own terms and lead the campaign against the HIV/AIDS epidemic from the forefront." Source: UNDP

- US Jazz Group Spreads AIDS Prevention Message in India. Source: The Hindu

- The Global Health Council's Photography Contest is dedicated to draw attention to health issues that have a global impact. Source: Global Health Council

- "Yesterday," film presents a moving and beautiful depiction of a Zulu woman struggling to understand the impacts of her own illness. Source: Global Envision

- Establishing puppetry as an artistic and cultural medium in Eastern Africa. Source: ArtMatters

- Make Art/Stop AIDS Conference and Workshop in Kolkata, India included many leading Indian film and folk media artists. Source: UCLA International Institute

- A Closer Walk is the first film to depict humankind’s confrontation with the global AIDS epidemic. Source: Closer Walk

- "This is My Sister", produced by the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), premiered at the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (ICASA) in Abuja. The film calls for more resources and projects to be aimed at strengthening the family unit in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Source:AMREF

- Jasoos Vijay (Detective Vijay) programme that utilizestelevision entertainment as a means of conveying intensively researched messaging on HIV/AIDS. Source: BBC

- HIP HOP for Africa to benefit the HIV/AIDS projects of Canada Africa Partnership on AIDS (CAP AIDS) and Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. Source: CAP AIDS

- Kids Say 'No' to HIV/AIDS Through TV Show. In addition to talking about HIV/AIDS in their live performances, the kids also talk about other topics such as keeping the environment clean, the importance of breakfast and self-esteem. Source: Adventis

- Playing for Life: Performance in Africa in the Age of AIDS is a survey of African performance that uses the focal lens of AIDs performances to examine performance more generally on the African continent. Author: Louise M. Bourgault, Northern Michigan University (2003) Source:Media for Development International

- Studio de Arte Social de Adriana Bertini, Brazilian artist working on HIV/AIDs prevention

- The Lives in Focus Project documents the lives of Indians affected by the AIDS epidemic and the challenges that stigmatized AIDS patients face in India. The project uses video, audio and photographs to present the voices of those who are rarely given space or time in traditional news media. Source: Lives in Focus

- MTV - The Staying Alive Foundation to encourage young people to take concrete action in protecting themselves and their communities against the multiple threats posed by the spread of HIV and AIDS, and to fight discrimination faced by people of all ages living with HIV and AIDS. Source: Staying Alive

- The Creative Challenge: Engaging Culture and Creativity in HIV/AIDS Prevention Source: Development Gateway

- Art AIDS Africa based in USA

- India Steps Away from the Old Song and Dance - A Bollywood film, "Phir Melenge" (We’ll Meet Again) deals directly with HIV/AIDS and the stigma surrounding the virus. Source: Washington Post

Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

If you are interested in sharing information, write to us at info@art4development.net. Please reference Art4Development.Net should you use any of the resources listed on this site.

* Figures based on UNAIDs, WHO, AIDs Channel reports as well as http://www.avert.org/worldstats.htm.