At the end of the article on the Beyond Access website they ask for the readers thoughts. I definately think our libraries can house critical information on HIV for different ages and sectors and can also be a community based venue for discussion as needed. If an HIV and AIDS shelf had age sensitive materials in the children's section, that would be a good start.
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I am ALL In
That
was the resounding commitment from participants of last month’s AIDS 2012 conferencein Washington, D.C. It even inspired the
popular #imALLin hashtag on Twitter.
Big
names like Bill Gates,
Secretary Clinton and, yes, even singer Elton John came together to assess the
current state of the epidemic, evaluate medical developments and chart a course
that will lead to the fulfillment of the UN’s sixth Millenium Development Goal
(MDG) of combatting HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
We
all know that the disease is far from over. More than 34 million people are now
living with HIV worldwide, including 2.5 million new infections last year
alone, according to some
estimates. Despite these statistics, it was refreshing to see so
much hope and unity in the quest for a cure. Among the key conference themes
was the need for strong partnerships and community engagement. That’s where
libraries come in.
Beyond
Access member libraries around the world are showcasing innovative
approaches to building HIV/AIDS awareness that lead to
prevention.
What
exactly do libraries have to do with disease prevention? A lot actually. Here
are a couple examples:
- · Libraries are trusted institutions on the front lines: In 2011, the Kitengesa Community Library along with three other libraries in the Uganda Community Libraries Association launched a project to run health reading camps for teenagers to discuss books about HIV/AIDS. In safe, trusted environments young people in transitioning countries can have open, informative discussions about HIV/AIDS and other challenges that face their communities.
- · Libraries are ideal partners to expand outreach: When HIV/AIDS infections were on the rise in a small Nepalese village, local NGOs established a partnership with the Laxmi Narayan Community Library and Resource Center to provide counseling to more than 1,200 community members. HIV-positive individuals were previously forced to travel hours for treatment, but the new partnership enabled them to obtain their anti-retroviral drugs at the nearby library.
As
we continue to work toward an ultimate end to this terrible disease, it’s essential
for citizens in developing countries to have access to information that will
help them prevent HIV/AIDS transmission and seek information for effective
treatment.
Libraries are an effective community partner in this fight.
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