Guest Blog: Kelly Rutherford Looks Forward to an HIV-Free Generation

By PopEater Staff Posted Dec 1st 2010 09:00AM

Exclusive: 'Gossip Girl' actress Kelly Rutherford opens up about World Aids Day as a guest blogger for PopEater to speak about her involvement with (RED) and its commitment toward the attainable goal of ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015.

While I have been fortunate enough to have had many successes in my life and with my career, the accomplishment I am most proud of is being a mother to my two young children. That is why I am so heartbroken when I see the statistics of women and children dying of AIDS in Africa, dying from a disease that is preventable and treatable.

I first became involved with the organization (RED) in 2009 through Bugaboo, a (RED) partner that contributes 1% of its proceeds from all their products to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria-- the world's leading financer of programs to fight these three diseases. I learned then that (RED) -- created in 2006 to generate funding to support the Global Fund's AIDS programs in Africa -- focuses much of its efforts on the health of women and children because they are disproportionately affected by this disease. Over 14 million children have been orphaned by AIDS in Africa, and even more shockingly, more than 1,000 children under the age of 15 are infected with HIV daily.

While the number of women and children affected by the disease is staggering, there is plenty of cause for hope and optimism. Over the last several years, the dramatic reduction in the cost of antiretroviral drugs has made these life-saving medicines far more accessible. Today, on World AIDS Day 2010, (RED) has launched an initiative called "An AIDS Free Generation is Due in 2015." This is to highlight the fact that through education, heightened awareness and funding support, the first AIDS-free generation since this disease started ravaging our society is a viable and realistic possibility in just five years time.

With antiretroviral (ARV) treatments, HIV positive mothers can prevent the spread of the virus to their babies, which can occur through pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding. Though this seems like a small cost, many mothers in Africa living in poverty lack the funds necessary to afford treatment, which in 99% of cases has been shown to block mother-to-child transmission. Without treatment, a mother has a 45% chance of passing HIV to her child.

While there are many challenges to contend with in this fragile global economic state, it is vital now more than ever to continue to support the programs that are working and helping us to win this fight. We've made a lot of progress, and we cannot allow the tide of this battle to shift back against us again.

2015 will be the start of something big -- giving every mother, regardless of circumstance, the chance to give their child an HIV-free start at life.

I feel very lucky to have two healthy children who inspire and motivate me to continue to support this cause, and look forward to a very near future when no child is born with the burden of HIV/AIDS.

Learn more at www.joinred.com.

--Kelly Rutherford

Tags: Kelly Rutherford

Comments

(4)

Wednesday 01 December

By duanej21@aol.com

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There is a ready and fullproof cure for AIDS that doesn't cost a cent: (1) no intravenous illegal drug use, and (2) the practice of monogamous heterosexual marriage. Anything else is pandering to sin and human weakness. Many won't like a message like this, but its logic is indisputable.

By Tracie Smith

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

THANK YOU!!!! That is exactly what I was going to say...Thank God for people like you, who are not afraid to get the Message out. AMEN!!!!

By gnikki

this is a cause i could really get involved with. as a mother of two teen boys, i know that teaching abstinence is a good thing and should carry on with as much support as possible. i also know that teenagers will still engage in sexualized activities, so teaching them about STD's and how to protect themselves using other methods such as condoms,having someone to talk to, etc. is important as well.

Wednesday 05 January

By latex fetisch

At present, this latex fetisch trend has already spread around the world, and the network also created a certain group of organizations divided into two groups.

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