hen the United Nations Security Council held its first meeting of the 21st century, its concern was not nuclear war or international terrorism, but HIV/AIDS.
The pandemic threatens not only millions of lives, but global security. Nations, communities, and families have lost the leaders of today and tomorrow. Healthcare systems have been overwhelmed, economies undermined, and schools robbed of both students and teachers.
There are 42 million men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS.
Every hour, an average of 350 people die of AIDS.
Every day, 14,000 people are newly infected with HIV.
Every year, 3,000,000 children lose one or both parents to AIDS.
AIDS has killed at least 25 million people worldwide, and another 42 million are living with AIDS or HIV infection. To put those numbers in stark perspective, imagine the population of Texas dead and California's residents slowly dying.
The pandemic is worst in Africa, where 19 million have died, 28 million are infected, and 13 million children have been orphaned.
But no region is spared.
Eastern Europe and Central Asia have the fastest growing epidemic, as cases of infection grew by 25 percent last year. Epidemiologists warn that India, with an HIV-infected population of 4 million, could have more AIDS cases by 2010 than all of Africa has today.
"This is a threat to an entire generation; this is a threat to an entire civilization," said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
The HIV/AIDS epidemic challenges Christians to respond with the uncompromising truth and unconditional love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In commemoration of World AIDS Day, Franklin Graham issues a call for the Church worldwide to pray for those who are suffering because of this deadly pandemic. Order a kit for your church and learn more.
Spiritual Impact Stories
Learn more about the spiritual impact of Samaritan's Purse' HIV/AIDS ministry around the world.
