In 2005, an estimated 38.6 million people were living with HIV/AIDS- 2.8 million of which have died in just one year.
Organizations such as (PRODUCT) RED and ALDO Fights AIDS have brought a new edge to donating money to the various organizations fighting HIV/AIDS, but how do you know you’re helping?
(PRODUCT) RED is an organization that has teamed up with clothing company GAP and other companies to raise money for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, specifically for infected women and children in Africa.
GAP is selling merchandise in their stores, ranging from a red-painted safety pin with a red bead for $1.08 to a cashmere hoodie sweatshirt for $265.
But only half of the proceeds go to fight for their claimed causes.
However, The Global Fund is the driving force behind (PRODUCT) RED and is one of the main organizations dedicated to helping people.
Since they started in 2002, The Global Fund has treated 544,000 people for HIV/AIDS, 1.43 million people for tuberculosis and 7.3 million people for malaria.
They have also donated insecticide-treated mosquito nets to 11.3 million families. WHERE
One good campaign ALDO Fights AIDS. The shoe company ALDO paired up with YouthAIDS to sell dog tags bearing the words “speak,” “see,” or “hear.”
According to their web site, YouthAIDS claims that the $5 spent for the tag will “protect a young person for six months.” One hundred percent of the proceeds for the dog tag will go to YouthAIDS.
YouthAIDS itself is a worthy campaign. Last year, YouthAIDS raised over $1 million that went towards clinics in 19 different countries. This enabled low-income people to get tested for HIV/AIDS for free so that they may get help sooner.
Proceeds also went to condom marketing, peer education about HIV/AIDS and mass media communication campaigns.
Other good organizations include ONE, which is endorsed by Bono of the band U2, KNOW HIV/AIDS and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, just to name a few. The most prominent group of people who are afflicted with AIDS in the United States is black women.
According to the Advocates For Youth organization, black women account for 60% of reported AIDS cases amongst women-three times the amount of the percentage of white women. They also account for 36% percent of all AIDS worldwide cases.
Some ways to prevent contracting HIV/AIDS is having protected sex and getting tested at a clinic at least every six months if you are sexually active.
Be sure a piercing or tattoo parlor uses sterile tools if you get a new piercing or tattoo. Re-used needles in tattoos and piercings may be likely to have HIV-contaminated blood and are just as risky as having unprotected sex.
AIDS is a horrible affliction and we should donate as much as possible, but make sure you get the most for your buck.
Do some research.
Most times, the most popular campaigns aren’t always giving as much as they should to the organizations.
