In celebration of World AIDS Day, the Taiwan Center for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) created a giant red ribbon in front of the Presidential office building in Taipei city. Taiwan CDC Director-General Feng-Yee Chang (張峰義) and 2012 Taiwan Series MVP Chih-Sheng Lin (林智勝) of the Lamigo Monkeys led 200 Taiwanese young baseball players to form the symbolic emblem in front of the Presidential office building, raising awareness of AIDS prevention and treatment.

Recent World Health Organization statistics revealed that 35.3 million people around the world are infected with AIDS. 210,000 of whom are young people. In 2012 alone, 230,000 new AIDS cases were reported, meaning that an average of 6,300 people are infected with HIV every day. Since its detection, AIDS has claimed an estimated 36 million lives worldwide, making AIDS prevention a top concern in several countries around the world.  

In Taiwan, Taiwan CDC statistics revealed that as of the end of October this year, the number of HIV infections topped 26,148. Alarmingly, the demographic of new HIV cases is getting younger and younger. In fact, within the past five years, 2,564 or 49% of the people who contracted HIV were young people and a breakdown of risk factors showed that 97% contracted the virus through unsafe sex. As a result, Taiwan CDC is working more closely with local health officials and educational institutions to discourage illegal drug use and unsafe sex via a myriad of communication channels.

For the World AIDS Day this year, Taiwan CDC organized “Baseball players against AIDS,” a campaign that aligns with the WHO World AIDS Day theme of “Getting to zero：Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths” .Various authorities, including Taiwan CDC Director-General Chang, county and city health bureaus and representatives from AIDS non-governmental organizations with 2012 Taiwan Series MVP Chih-Sheng Lin, came together to lead 200 young baseball players from elementary and high schools across Taiwan to form a giant red ribbon. Participating schools included Taitung Hongye Little League teams, JianAn Elementary School, Longshan Elementary School, Taipei Municipal Fu Lin Elementary School, New Taipei Municipal Er Chung Junior High School, Chongyi High School, Taipei Municipal Heping High School, Taipei Municipal Dali High School, National Yang Ming Senior High School, and New Taipei Municipal Yingge Vocational High School. The act aimed to promote public awareness for AIDS and its prevention to a level equal to the World Baseball Classic. Just as players work together in a team to achieve home runs in the game of baseball, eradicating AIDS is a team effort that relies on the contribution of every individual.

At the event, Taiwan CDC Director-General Chang pointed out that AIDS does not only impact a nation economically, but widespread discrimination against people living with HIV creates social problems that hinder AIDS prevention efforts. Director-General Chang hopes that the public will not only become more educated about the reality of AIDS and its prevention, but also become more understanding and caring towards people living with HIV. He went on to urge those who engage in unsafe sex to get tested and, if need be, seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
 

AIDS prevention is a community effort that requires the support, investment and cooperation of the entire community. This year, Taiwan CDC created “Love forms Alliance”, which is a campaign to inspire and motivate people to become partners in AIDS control. Their efforts include strengthening AIDS advocacy and prevention among students at all levels, installing vending machines on college campuses to disperse condoms to promote safe sex, training teachers in AIDS prevention and awareness, collaborating across industries ,including internet cafes, KTVs, nightclubs, bath houses frequented by groups at-risk for AIDS, and partnering with central government and local health organizations. The alliance aims to unite all corners of society, to boost collaborative efforts in the ongoing fight against HIV.