I received my email newsletter from PERSAD today, and learned that Betty Hill has been seated to the new Pittsburgh HIV/AIDS Commission, a project spearheaded by Council member Cory O’Conner. Congrats to Betty!

What I wanted to post here however, was a list of “to do” items as they were listed in the newsletter. They are listed as part of a question: will you…?

Will you:

1. get an HIV test?
2. encourage and accompany someone to get a test?
3. invite an HIV/AIDS speaker to talk to a group you are involved with?
4. tell your school board to make sure prevention /education is in your school?
5. donate to an agency providing care?
6. transport an HIV+ person to a medical appointment?
7. distribute information to a high risk group?
8. tell your legislator that you support funding to HIV/AIDS services?
9. talk about the issue with friends / family?
10. take action to reduce any risk of infection in your life?

I’m an old guy, and I was sexually active well before we even knew there was a disease that would eventually be called HIV/AIDS, and so often across that history of time, the focus has been solely on prevention. What I love about this list, is the emphasis on far more than simply not becoming infected.

HIV/AIDS is an issue that impacts everyone, and affects our communities and the City as a whole. By doing all of these “to do” items, each and everyone of us is truly doing our part to minimize the impact of this disease and create a better tomorrow for everyone. Will you join me in committing to this HIV to do list? Not to doing one or two items on the list but completing them all, and remaining engaged in the efforts to fight HIV, by always doing all you can!

Photo By AJC1