sudbury media neglects World Aids Day in SUDBURY

This WAR on HIV must be won by education & awareness!
To Whom It May Concern:

Re: World Aids Day

I have recently returned to Sudbury after over 35 years in the big ugly city. For the most part it has been a positive experience. Sudburians have a lot to be proud. The reclamation of the environment and a thriving arts community to name a couple but that is not the reason for this letter.
Recently World AIDS Day was celebrated and it was my first in Sudbury. I was diagnosed with HIV almost 20 years ago and have been probably living with the virus for over 30 years so I am quite familiar with the issues concerning AIDS. AIDS was covered in the national media quite well and even some of the TV programming included AIDS movies. The local media chose to ignore it. Why and how this occurred is beyond me. How could you not cover the number one health issue of this century. This decision whether made consciously or not is negligent to say the least and bordering on criminal. Ignorance, fear and hatred have fueled the spread of this disease and your decision to ignore it locally contributes to this.
Recently I had the honour to participate in a local AIDS vigil. For those who are not familiar with these types of ceremonies they are a gathering of people to celebrate the lives of those who have died and those who are affected by the disease. People gather and share there stories. One story that I found rather poignant was a man like myself who had returned to Sudbury from New York and he related many stories of his advocacy work in New York. Part of his stories included one of Sudbury. He related how the Handi Transit bus drivers were reluctant to drive him because of the HIV. I could not believe this kind of ignorance still existed . This one story only demonstrates the need for education and how the media has to play an important role in the education of our community. We have come a long way from when dentists, funeral homes and home care wouldn’t accept HIV clients but really how far when this kind of ignorance still exists.

I would just like to close with this thought during the Holiday Season and when we are sitting down with our families and enjoying our meals perhaps we could give a prayer or two for the millions of people who still suffer from stigma and discrimination due to this insidious disease.

Perplexed PHA

David DuBois
CRAZY WORLD WE LIVE IN-MILLIONS DIEING IN AFRICA BECAUSE THEY CANNOT ACCESS HAART MEDS-THE USA INVADING COUNTRY'S BASED ON LIE'S & FALSEHOODS?END TIMES FER SURE!!!