Get Educated
Pandemic – from Greek pan (all) + demos (people) is an epidemic (an outbreak of an infectious disease) that spreads word-wide or at least across a large region; Affects all people.
In a 2004 speech Secretary Colin Powell shared his deep concern over the onslaught of AIDS by saying, “ I believe that HIV/AIDS is the greatest threat to mankind today, the greatest weapon of mass destruction on the earth today: killing 8,000 people every day.”
AIDS is one of the largest and most complex threats to human health the world has ever known. Great stigma compounds already tragic physical consequences. And in the developing world, poverty itself is both a cause and an effect of a pandemic that is devastating the physical, social and economic health of entire regions.
People around the world continue to suffer and die from this disease, which often robs them of family, social networks and ways to make a living. Young women bear the greatest risk of infection and burden of caring for the ill. But many people have found ways to live with dignity despite their HIV-status, and CRS works to replicate that success.
In 25 years, HIV has infected more than 65 million people. The majority of those suffering live in Africa, but the pandemic is quickly spreading in many countries throughout Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia. By 2010, it is estimated that 80 million people will be infected and 25 million children will have been orphaned. HIV and AIDS disproportionately affect the poor and vulnerable, and limited resources often prevent poor communities from supporting the millions who suffer.
HIV/AIDS is a global problem. Last year alone, AIDS took more than 3 million lives, devastating countless families and leaving millions of children orphaned. By 2010, The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS projects AIDS orphans will number at least 25 million.
George Snyman, CEO of Hands At Work In Africa, tells the story of Africa’s battle with AIDS as follows:
This pandemic came is three waves:
In the First Wave hundreds of thousands of people were infected. It was also called the invisible wave because you couldn’t see it and very few people took notice.
The Second Wave is the wave that is hitting southern Africa at the moment where hundreds of thousands of people are dying. You might think that this will not affect you. You might think that this is happening over there. You might think that this will not affect your children, but it will.
In the Third Wave millions of children in Southern Africa will grow up without any fear of death, without any knowledge of law, without any education. Our children will have to cope with these children some day.
Pure religion is caring for the orphan and the widow, and the Gospel of our Savior is conveyed through the words and deeds of His Body. Each of us has something to contribute. Wherever you are in life, whatever you are doing, you can make a difference. We urge you to use all that God has given you to fulfill His commission and advance His kingdom in our hurting world.