Many choose apathy over sense for AIDS

As I sat in front of the TV, a commercial flashed with the fact stating one out of every three people infected with HIV do not know they have it.

Then I began to think to myself: How could you not know? It seems like every time I go to the doctor I am asked if I want an HIV test. Or is it just me? Is it that people aren’t aware or is it that people don’t want to be aware?

I think that we are definitely aware that the virus is out there. However, many don’t believe it will happen to them. That’s why this plague is growing so rapidly.

People need to begin to think this disease is real and the only exemptions are people who abstain from sex and intravenous drug use. But in these days, you have to be extra careful because few have been known to get HIV through blood transfusions.

Are we aware that this disease kills and that there is no cure? Yes. Yet, the problem still remains that people think their skin won’t break.

Other countries aren’t as fortunate as the United States to have education and research. Get educated and know you can die.

In 2002, an estimated 5 million people acquired HIV in the U.S. Over 90,000 of those 5 million people were in the state of Florida. This is a problem.

This should give people between the ages of 18-40 more of a reason to protect themselves.

BET & MTV have AIDS campaigns asking us to use protection and get tested.

Here on FAMU’s campus we have numerous organizations doing Free HIV testing. Help is out there. Utilize them.

Don’t be ok with just knowing this deadly disease is out there; Feel good with knowing that you are healthy.

Utilize your resources.

Barryne Richardson, 19, is a sophomore broadcast journalism student from Atlanta. She can be reached at Richardsondiva@aol.com.