People in the United States and around the world are suffering from the terrible health problems and personal pain that HIV and AIDS bring into their lives. They suffer physically and emotionally and there is still no cure for the disease. If I had the power to make the world a better place for the people with HIV and AIDS, I would try to do many things.
One thing that I would do that would make a big difference to the people infected with this virus is to raise money in a fund-raiser. I would take the money we make and give it to the people infected with HIV and AIDS. That money would then go for all the treatments and medicines they need. It could help with hospice care and home care for the patients who do not have health care. It could also go towards research for HIV, AIDS, and ARC prevention and cure. I am not sure how I could raise this money because it would need to be continual, but it would be important because it would help to provide comfort and care to these patients who are often avoided and judged.
To stop the spreading of this virus, I would give free anti-body tests to everyone and provide clean needles for drug dependent people to prevent sharing infected needles. Most prevention is controversial, but it is very necessary to stop the spread of this disease. For this reason, I would try to encourage abstinence of sexual contact instead of casual contact, and condoms for anyone who has high risk behavior.
I would also like to provide more camps and fun programs for HIV and AIDS patients. Since there is no complete cure, it would be nice to give some happiness to these people in a safe and helpful place where they could be with people who share the same symptoms and fears. Camps that focus on drug awareness and building of self-esteem would also be valuable. I attended a camp called PANDA last October. This camp was mostly on drug and alcohol prevention, but I did take a class there on AIDS. I learned a lot there and it strengthened my commitment to stay drug free. Drug awareness would help stop the spread of AIDS.
Finding a cure for HIV and AIDS would also make the world a better place. It is important to continue research and experiments so there will be less victims of this epidemic.
I think that the most important way that I can make the world a better place for people with HIV and AIDS would be to educate communities about the disease so there would be less fear and judgment of infected people. It is bad enough to suffer from the illness and all the other side-effects. To suffer alone or condemned has got to be the worst pain of all.
This health paper was an essay Lauren wrote for a state competition on November 10, 1998 - ten days before she was killed.