The rapid spread of HIV/AIDS throughout the world is widely acknowledged. Many people have deep feelings about the infection, ranging from abhorrence to total acceptance. Early instances seemed to show that is was a disease of homosexual contact, but this is now known not to be the case, also occurring among heterosexual couples, and from non sexual contact where bodily fluids are exchanged, such as in blood transfusions, injuries and accidents.

We are dealing with children who at no stage can be held accountable for having the disease. They acquire HIV/AIDS at the moment of birth from an HIV positive mother by exchange of bodily fluids in the birth canal. They are blameless in any understanding of the word, but face a shortened life, poor health and dependency on others sooner or later. This can be prevented and is prevented in the developed world by giving medication to mother and child at the moment of birth. In the developed world this is normally done together with Caesarean section to avoid fluid transfer. While this cannot be guaranteed in developing countries, the drugs are still very effective in eliminating risk of HIV/AIDS with the help traditional birth attendants.

So why should we advocate that Rotary International follows Polio-Plus with this programme?

• If you are a religious person, a humanitarian, or someone who believes in giving others a better way of living then these will be your reasons for supporting ABC.
• If you are an entrepreneur, a hard nosed reader of the bottom lines of accounts, or an investor in financial projects for a profit, then the ABC programme will ensure that there are more healthy people who will grow up in developing lands to become useful and productive workers as well as being more prosperous and thus customers of goods and services, instead of poorly and poor.
• If you are a good Rotarian then remember: 1. It is the truth, 2. It is fair, 3. It will engender goodwill and friendship, 4. It will benefit all of those who are concerned - thus passing the four way test that we should apply to all of our projects.