You're shouting, so it must be important.

Perhaps you'd like to explain to us--or me because the HIV rats have
piled into the lifeboats and are sailing into the sunset--how you've
given compassion to someone today.

Words are easy, but what have you DONE today?

HIVers (people who have been diagnosed HIV+) aren't doing so badly for
themselves.  Getting an HIV+ diagnosis can be a gateway to free health
care, social security benefits, housing and acceptance by peers.

This is highlighted by this article (which I've previously written
about)
<http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0sa3qzpca4Ta1ua.axama
l&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20080504>:

----- Begin Quote -----

Many women of remote villages of Achham district want organisations
concerned to declare them HIV-infected. Reason: These poor souls are
lured by goodies offered to real HIV victims.

According to Achham district public health office (DPHO), Achham has
370 HIV-infected persons, the highest number of HIV-infected persons
in a district.

With their husbands in India to make money, most of the women of
Achham district find it difficult to eke out a living for themselves
and dependents. To combat poverty, they have begun appealing to
organisations working for the welfare of HIV-infected to declare them
HIV-infected.

“My husband has gone abroad to earn money. How would I feed my
children or send them to school? Had I been an HIV victim,
organisations would have provided for our food and children’s
education,” Saraswati Pariwar of Marku VDC-6 of Achham said.

Gaumati Kunwar of Chandi VDC said she came to Safebagar thinking she
was infected with HIV because her husband has been bedridden for quite
some time. “My husband used to work in Mumbai. We are having a tough
time ever since he fell ill. Nobody cares for us. It would be better
if I were HIV-infected. At least I would get support from
organisations.”

Counsellor Durga Subedi of Hasti AIDS, an organisation working for HIV
victims, said many women came to the organisation, pleading that they
be declared HIV-infected. “We checked all of them, but only a few were
found to be infected with HIV,” said Subedi. Shashikala Koirala of
Hasti AIDS said they were surprised to hear the women say they wanted
to be declared HIV-infected.

President of Sneha Nepal (Achham) and vice-president of HIV AIDS
Rastriya Mahasangh Mathura Kunwar said they had been providing shelter
and medicare to HIV-infected women. “Many helpless women and widows
also come here hoping to get a certificate that recognises them as
HIV-infected, “ Kunwar said.

----- End Quote -----

Perhaps it's no coincidence that people in the poorest parts of the
world are also the hardest hit by HIVAIDS.  Those infected with HIV
can look forward to "goodies" from flag waving, campaigning, charities
and governments in rich countries.

And, perhaps, it is also no coincidence that countries that have a
'free' universal health care system and generous social security
benefits tend to have low HIVAIDS prevalence.  The people in such
countries have no reason to contract a fake virus in order to get
"goodies."