Today, on the 22nd World AIDS Day

Universal access, human rights theme of 22nd World AIDS Day

Today, on the 22nd World AIDS Day, people will gather to remember those they have lost, to support those living with HIV and to continue to fight for a cure.

County clinic stresses access Asbury group to honor dead
By BONNIE DELANEY •
STAFF WRITER • November 30, 2010

The theme of this year's day is "Universal Access and Human Rights" to stress the importance of access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care services.
More than 33 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, said the Rev. Robert Kaeding, founder and director of The Center in Asbury Park, which provides housing for 25 adults with HIV/AIDS, along with an array of support services for those in the community.
"So many people are living with the virus, yet AIDS is off the front page of the news," he added.
"The best kind of prevention is talking about it and education. We need to remind people that there still is not a cure and that AIDS is still out there," Kaeding said.
At 6:30 p.m., a candlelight walk will proceed from the Center in Asbury Park to Trinity Church to remember those who have lost their lives to the disease and those who are living with it.
Leslie Terjesen, a spokeswoman for the Ocean County Health Department, said World AIDS Day is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the disease.

"We're home to the Ocean County AIDS Clinic and it is free to anyone who has HIV or AIDS," said Terjesen, adding that in addition to the rapid test, the clinic offers counseling, respite for caregivers, and support groups run by residents who lost their children to AIDS in the early 1990s
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