Mike Levin: “December 1 marked the 17th annual observance of World AIDS Day. HIV/AIDS is an epidemic that requires a global solution…”

“December 1 marked the 17th annual observance of World AIDS Day. HIV/AIDS is an epidemic that requires a global solution and the United States has a responsibility to lead the world in addressing this horrible disease. Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic more than two decades ago, over 21 million people have died as a result of this disease. Worldwide, more than 42 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that AIDS claims the lives of over 8,000 people per day and 5 million more people are infected with HIV/AIDS each year. This year's theme for Global AIDS Day is 'Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS' to recognize and call attention to the rapidly growing number of females with HIV/AIDS. Women, and especially young women, are almost two and a half times more vulnerable to the disease than men because of the social and educational inequalities they face in many areas of the world. Women are much more likely to be sexually abused and are less likely to be aware of the risks associated with unprotected sex and IV drug use. Women also risk passing the disease on to their newborn children. It is estimated that over 19 million women currently live with HIV/AIDS, of which 2 million will pass the disease on to over 700,000 newborn children worldwide this year alone. Tragically, more Americans lost their lives to AIDS in the 1990s than in all wars in U.S. history.”