The abovementioned is the sub-theme for this year’s World AIDS Day. But what do “universal access” and “human rights” mean in regards to HIV/AIDS? It is surprising that many of us do not know that answer.

For those who are HIV positive or have AIDS, there is a significant number of people who are not getting the help and treatment they need to combat the life threatening disease. Those in the United States are very fortunate to have access to medical treatment when exposed to the virus. But many people, such as those in Africa and Asia, are not so fortunate. World leaders are cooperating as best the can to make medical aid more accessible to those not able to receive or afford the necessary care. However, they can’t do it alone. They need our help. A simple donation can do that. Take the time to visit www.unicefusa.org/work/hivaids.

Every person has the human right to receive help in any form available to fight the disease. Each individual infected with HIV/AIDS has the right to health and the right to life. It is our human right to give those infected a fighting chance to survive. But let’s take a step back and go to a point where all of this may have been prevented. It is also a human right to know your health status and provide that information to your sexual partner(s). That can easily be done through testing.

When is the last time you were tested? Are you aware of your status? Are you 100% honest about your status. Not knowing your status does not equal being negative. The status of your health is not only important to yourself, but also to those you are sexually active with or committed to. You have the choice in every action you make and I would hope that one of those choices is to know your status, absolutely and indefinitely.

There are reasons some do not get tested. One of them is fear – fear of the test results. This is totally understandable because we all have those fears. But think about the consequences of not knowing your status. If you are infected with a sexually transmitted disease and are never informed of it, the pain you will have to endure in the future is far greater than the pain you will undergo hearing the result.

Another reason for lack of testing is a lack of knowledge about testing resources and the tests themselves. Testing today is faster, more convenient, more accurate and easier than it was 10 years ago. Also, people have many misconceptions about HIV testing. Here are some facts:

In the San Diego area:

• Testing is confidential

• Many testing sites offer testing at low or no cost

• The Rapid Test offers results within 20 minutes

• The Early Test can detect the virus one week after exposure

You can easily go to any one of these sites for testing:

University of California,

San Diego AVRC

220 Dickinson Street Suite A

San Diego, CA 92103

619-543-8080

Call for an appointment

The San Diego LGBT

Community Center

3909 Centre St.

San Diego, CA 92103

619-692-2077

Monday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(Rapid test only)

Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

(Rapid & Early tests)

Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(Rapid test only)

Thursday: 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

(Rapid & Early tests)

Friday: 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

(Rapid & Early tests)

County Heath Services

Complex

HIV Services Clinic

3851 Rosecrans St.

San Diego, CA 92110

619-296-2120

Rapid testing available

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday:

7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Family Health Center of San Diego – North Park Family Health Center

3544 30th St.

San Diego, CA 92104

619-515-2449

Tuesday and Thursday:

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.*

*Testing provided by UCSD AVRC, also offering the Early Test. Arrive at 5:30 pm and receive an appointment for the same day.

And one last bit of important information: help is available to anyone! Regardless of whether you have medical insurance or not, if you test positive or not, there is immediate counseling available by on-call therapists and trained HIV support personnel. Always remember: you are not alone.

If none of this is hitting a nerve in you, then let me share with you some very important numbers:

• At the end of 2007, San Diego County had a total of 3,133 people infected with HIV, not including those infected with AIDS.

• At the end of 2008, San Diego County had a total of 3,847 people infected with HIV.

• As of April 2009, that number increased to 4,010.

• Of the 4,010 infected, 3,584 are male.

• And, of those 3,584 males infected, only 89 self-classified as heterosexual.*

If you look at these statistics, the average infection rate is 55 per month. That means 55 new people test positive for HIV every month! And the gay community accounts for 98 percent of those infected.

So, the big ask in all of this, as it relates to World AIDS Day: please get tested. Make that choice! And, please, make the choice to go about any possible means of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. Remember, knowledge is power! Be the one who wears the red ribbon for others and not the one who the red ribbon is worn for.