stompAIDS | AIDS & YOUTH

It has been more than 20 years since the first HIV-positive Singaporean was diagnosed in 1985. Since then, the number of people infected with HIV has climbed steadily to a record 357 new cases in the year 2006 alone. That’s an average of one new case every day in 2006! Among all those infected, about 19% or almost 600 are young people aged 29 years or below.

These figures are just the tip of the iceberg. WHO estimates that there are between 4,000 to 5,000 persons in Singapore who have HIV infection but may not know it as they do not yet show symptoms or have not gone for testing. What is scary is that these people can still infect others.

The increasing number of HIV positive young people is a worrying trend. It is tragic for a young life, so full of potential, to be limited by a positive diagnosis of HIV. It is even more tragic when the infected person unknowingly spreads HIV to other young via high risk behaviours such as engaging in casual sex or having sex with multiple partners

However, young people are in a good position to help themselves. Youth of today are well-informed, well-educated, and technologically savvy. They have the ability and courage to take difficult issues head-on and come up with bold and innovative solutions. They can play a key role to educate their peers about AIDS prevention measures as well as help promote a culture of non-discrimination against those who are HIV positive.

We seek passionate youths who want to fight AIDS to participate in stompAIDS Challenge 2007.