Wisdom of the Lost

So I'm researching things to be passionate about and, at the same time, following Travis McCoy on his very eye opening experience. I have always wanted to help people and one thing that has always been something that bothers me is when people do not get the respect that they deserve. One of the things that I noticed when I started to do more research on the AIDS epidemic is that the women, as well as other HIV Positive people, are being discriminated against because of their diagnosis. The children were a main concern for me at first but I now realize that you have to try and get to the women in the world before you can accurately get to the problem with the children. I researched the epidemic in the three places that Travie visited (Africa, Asia, and India). The things that I learned are shocking and a little disturbing as well as something that makes me feel angry. These Statistics are amazing:

• In Africa there was a poll that was conducted in 2006 with about 1,370 men and about 1/5 of them admitted to raping a woman.
  
• Also in 2006, about 29.1% of pregnant women were infected with HIV.
• In 2008, babies that were infected perinatally was about 39,000 and babies infected through the breast milk of the mother was about 26,000. (I had no idea that the breast milk was a way to transmit the virus but it makes sense when you think about it.)
• In 2007 there were about 280,000 children under the age of 15 that were living with AIDS.
• 1.4 million... thats MILLION children were orphaned because of AIDS in 2007 also.
  
• In Asia about 3/4 of the people do not have access to medicine.
• In 2006 25% of people have been refused medical treatment because of being diagnosed as being HIV positive in India.
  
• If you don't have preventative medicine while pregnant you have anywhere between 20-45% chance of passing it onto the child.
  
• With drugs and formula feeding the percentage is reduced to about 2%
• A single does of medicine can reduce the risk by half.

These statistics are alarming and something that I believe people should be aware of. I realize that these statistics are not for the USA but it still can effect us. The discrimination is what I believe to be the main problem when it comes to getting the spread of AIDS awareness. When people are afraid of getting their feelings and situations out about things that are as private as being HIV positive people will keep it hidden.