Both nationwide and worldwide HIV/AIDS has fallen off our radar screens. Ten or 15 years ago, people probably knew someone who was HIV positive or who had AIDS. Today they might not, even though more persons are living with HIV than ever before, an estimated 38 million worldwide, 900,000 of them in the United States.

Although governments — local, regional and national — have put more money into HIV/AIDS education, prevention, treatment and care, funding has not been adequate to stop the pandemic. UNAIDS says $12 billion needs to be invested in each of the next 10 years to stop HIV, but less than half has been committed for 2005. In the past, individuals knew they could contract HIV/AIDS and took precautions not to. Today they take less care, even though it is estimated that half of the people living with HIV in the United States do not know they are infected. The highest rates of infection are among women, young people ages 15-25, and people of color.

— Rev. W. Evan Golder, editor/writer for a special United Church News insert on HIV/AIDS, October 2004

The Association of Brethren Caregivers encourages congregations to observe World AIDS Day held every December 1. A bulletin insert was created with the Global Mission Partnerships of the General Board to help congregations raise awareness of the impact HIV/AIDS has had in the United States and overseas, especially Africa. The bulletin insert can be downloaded in color or in black and white.