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    "Argentina has one of the highest HIV rates in all of Latin America," says Cecilia Correa, a psychologist and specialist in youth and children, who works to educate young people, particularly women, about how to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS. Cecilia, who is a doctor with the Foundation for Studies and Research on Women, a non-governmental agency based in Buenos Aires, came to the UN Special Session on HIV/AIDS, so that she could express her concern for the impact of the epidemic in her country. "The United Nations is taking the chance to declare that this is a universal problem, and something needs to be done about it," said Cecilia. She hoped the Argentinean government would adopt new approaches after its delegation met with political leaders who came to New York to hammer out a global strategy to fight the pandemic. The Delegates from more than 150 nations, including 26 heads of State and Government, heard startling statistics on the effects of the pandemic, as well as strong appeals for concrete action to stem its spread and reach out to all, especially those who do not have access to treatment. The Special Session adopted a Declaration of Commitment, a strong blueprint for future action which calls for the adoption of national strategies and financing plans to fight HIV/AIDS. Cecilia hopes to change the stigma in her country associated with HIV and AIDS by co-ordinating the first ever National Youth Network about Sexual and Reproductive Health. Cecilia herself is not HIV positive, but she says the virus is hitting too close to home to ignore it. HIV infections in Argentina have increased dramatically in the past decade, and Cecilia believes that young women are extremely vulnerable, considering that for every male infected there are 6 women infected with HIV. "Women are more vulnerable because they are not being educated about safe sex, and are too scared and embarrassed to ask their parents or other adults questions involving sexual behaviour," she says. Since 1992, Cecilia has helped train many young people to be peer counsellors. She argues that the younger generation of Argentineans feel more comfortable being counselled by their peers about safe sex, pregnancy and the dangers of HIV and AIDS than they would by older people. Cecilia smiled proudly as she declared, "I am here in New York City, at the United Nations, so that we can all say to the world, 'We are here and we are going to help fight AIDS!' " FIND OUT MORE about how the UN and its partners are fighting to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. Click on the links next to Cecilia's photo. Photo credit: Robin Bowman/Matrix |
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