Today is World AIDS Day. Since its initiation almost three years ago, AIDS has surpassed any other disease in terms of its impact on humanity. Not only does HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, possessed the ability to directly attack and overwhelm the human body's immune system, a novel mode of assault when it comes to diseases, its negative effects are felt in every facet of human life, from economic activity to how we perceive and consequently treat each other.

That the people of the world could basically be divided and defined en masse by whether or not they are infected or not infected with some mysterious and incurable virus which origins remain unknown sounds more like the premise for a science fiction novel than it does a summation of the situation facing the world today. Yet that is what HIV/AIDS has basically done.

Recently, the United Nations reported that it has possibly over estimated the prevalence of AIDS cases by several million. According to a Washington Post article on the development, “The worldwide total of people infected with HIV -- estimated a year ago at nearly 40 million and rising -- now will be reported as 33 million.”

This is good news undoubtedly but far from cause for celebration or complacency. It is not inconceivable that due to the nature of the disease, the figures that represent a current over-estimation will in fact represent an accurate representation a few years down the line. HIV infection has so far proven irreversible in the individual and as people begin to live longer after infection, the number of persons living with HIV (PLHIV) will in fact increase. The fact the percentage of PLHIV is going to either decrease or stabilize relative to general population is in the long irrelevant. Global population growth cannot go on in any sustainable manner ad infinitum; there is going to eventually be juncture when the number of human beings inhabiting this relatively small planet reaches a critical mass. If a cure for HIV is not found by then, the likelihood will be that HIV prevalence within the global population, and particularly within developing countries like Guyana, will spike again and probably at unprecedented levels.

This year's theme for World AIDS Day is “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise – Leadership.” Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, in his message for today’s commemoration stated that:

"Guyana must rank very high in the world when it comes to political leadership in the fight against HIV. The Government has shown both commitment and willingness to invest in putting together programs to prevent and to control HIV. But we see unprecedented cooperation from all political parties. There is also impressive leadership from the private sector and from civic society, including the trade unions and faith-based organizations."

Today should be a day for the recognition of the leadership we’ve benefited from locally, from the Ministerial level to the grassroots NGOs whose membership has been invaluable in charting the course the fight against HIV/AIDS has taken in this country.