The thought-provoking, preventative nature of the new AIDS awareness campaign seeks to combat the disease by reducing its opportunity to be propagated. Knowledge and information are the powerful tools in this effort. The resources created each year for this campaign are shared with community-based AIDS organizations, schools, public health units, and businesses, who adapt the materials and ideas to suit localized needs. Some Yukoners tend to think the risk of infection is low and not something to worry about in our small population, especially since we are so far North. It is with pleasure that I support the Canadian AIDS Society's national campaign during National AIDS Awareness Week and World AIDS Day.
Infection rates are on the rise.
The importance of preventive education for this group cannot be underestimated. Another vital concern is the fact that HIV-positive women can transmit the disease to their infant during pregnancy, during birth, or by breastfeeding. The essence of this challenge is that we must listen to these women with respect for their desires, needs, and rights to make their own decisions, and provide better information and support for those needs and decisions. A specific campaign directed towards women will be unveiled in the Spring. On behalf of Planned Parenthood Newfoundland and Labrador, I am supporting the Canadian AIDS Society 's 1999-2000 AIDS Awareness Campaign.