"Many" may not want to, but I want to know

If like me, you are wondering how you can work towards solutions for this global HIV/AIDS crisis you may be faced with a similar dilemma. For most, the question of wanting to do something about it is a non-issue. But as to how our skills could best be used, this might be trickier. As I embark on a job search (and soul search) for life after college, I am unsure as to how to apply myself and my efforts. One thing is clear, though.

In order to work towards treatments, reduce barriers between science and people, and institute long-lasting mechanisms to deal with the HIV/AIDS pandemic, we need education. We need to know and understand what we are dealing with, and how we might best treat it. We must treat our attitudes, our culture and our ways of thinking, not just strive for medical treatments.

That is why I am writing for this blog. This will be an opportunity to learn, as much as to transmit what I learn. I hope you will join me. I hope you will read and respond to posts. I hope you will become impassioned and vocal. I hope you will pass on information from and about Dance Marathon.

Listen to one perspective about the barriers to treating HIV positive and high risk drug using populations in Russia. A 21 year old psychologist working with in this community comments on the attitudes in a Russian city with twice the national rate of HIV:

"Many think drug addicts and those infected with HIV should be isolated. Despite a recent information campaign many still don't know enough and many just don't want to know."
Check out the NPR report.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98229868

The need for education in this crisis, is clear.
Welcome to the DM blog of 2009. I hope this will be a year to learn, and grow, and grapple with this challenge.