Getting to Zero

World AIDS day takes place each year on December 1st. I was pretty bummed out when I discovered my org already had two fundraisers planned on December 1st. So, I was not able to plan an event with them to help get the word out about HIV/AIDS. The theme for 2012 was: Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV infections. Zero deaths from AIDS-related illness. Zero discrimination. Currently, 33.4 million people are living with HIV/AIDS; 5.6 million live in South Africa. More than 25 million people have died of AIDS worldwide since the first cases were reported in 1981.

Since, my org was not able to do anything, I was invited to go with Natalie and some individuals from her work to a step down care facility about 30 minutes outside of Empangeni. Almost all of the patients had HIV, AIDS, or TB. We took each patient a care pack with lotions and other toiletries, fruit, and juices. After we handed out all of the packs, most of the individuals left but Natalie, a few of her co-workers and myself. We stayed for about another hour and a half just talking with the female patients. We took extra lotion and we’re able to rub lotion on their hands and feet and just let them be pampered for a bit. It was really nice to get to chitchat with some of these ladies and I really enjoyed myself. I wont lie some of it was very hard to see and to be surround by so much suffering was not easy, but it was also very rewarding. I hope that we were able to give these ladies a little bit of peace during our visit. Nats and I plan to go back this weekend and visit with them again.