Do come

Singapore AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2006

The month that commemorates the loss of lives to the most dreaded disease of our time, HIV/AIDS.

Here are some cold hard stats to helps us ponder the gravity of the situation.

Worldwide in 2005 -

People living with HIV 40.3 million (38 million adults and 2.3 million children)

4.9 million newly diagnosed

3.1 million died

15 million orphans (children below the age of 18)

700000 children became HIV positive

In Asia -

1.1 million were newly diagnosed

8.3 million living with the disease

520000 died in 2005

Overall -

50% of the newly infected were below 25 years old, most will die before reaching 35.

95% all HIV live in the developing world

In Singapore, the numbers continue to rise unabated.

According to the Ministry of Health in the first ten months of 2005,

198 Singaporeans were newly diagnosed

90% male, 10% female

98% through unprotected sex with an infected partner (of these 69% straight, 26% gay and 3% bisexual)

3 children were born HIV positive

2 got it through intravenous drugs abuse

57% are 30-49 years old

954 have died since the first case in 1985

Do join me to the 2006 Singapore AIDS Candlelight memorial which will be held on 21 May 2006 7.30pm at Campus Green Singapore Management University (Bras Basah Road). This serves as a reminder to you and to me. Come to understand what it is all about.

ja
having casual sex or taking drugs may be good to some but staying alive and away from bad karma is what i would advise for all of us