World AIDS Day Pushes For Zero Infections By 2015 [VIDEO]

Four years from now, the world will see whether one of the United Nations’ Millennium Development goals is realized: the halt of HIV/AIDS, with no new infections by that year.

Speakers at a World AIDS Day event held Thursday at the Atrium of the Harris Building said they had heard that the goal was optimistic or unattainable. However, they said such a vision is well within the realm of possibility.

Kelly Thompson, executive director of —a New London-based organization provides support to those affected by HIV/AIDS—read an editorial piece about how the disease was essentially considered a death sentence for years after its discovery in 1981. Thirty years later, however, the awareness of disease, treatments for it, and acceptance of those affected by it have made great strides.

“We all came together,” said Thompson. “That’s what this is about. We all need you. We all need each other. That’s how we’re going to get to zero.”

Carol Jones, director of medical case management with Alliance for Living, said four out of five people who are HIV positive are unaware that they have this condition. She said halting the transmission rests with individual responsibility, such as having proper protection during sex and ensuring that needles used for things such as tattoos and earrings are sterile.

“This is not an easily transmittable virus,” said Jones. “This is not a virus you can get from hugging, kissing, sharing a sandwich with someone.”

Two HIV positive people spoke out about how the disease has not stopped them from living full lives. A woman named Theresa said she has had the virus for 15 years, and in that time she has quit using cocaine and completed her high school diploma.

“I accepted it,” she said. “I didn’t let it hold me back.”

A man named Doug said he was first diagnosed with the virus 25 years ago, and expected that he would not live long enough to see his daughters graduate high school. Not only did he witness them do this, but he now has a granddaughter. Doug said he felt privileged to have the health care and services available to treat the virus, but noted that not everyone has such accessibility.

“There are amazing people who are no longer here,” he said.

Mayor-elect Daryl Finizio said he was shocked growing up as a gay teenager to see that little if anything was initially done to combat the disease. He said activism in this area helped get him into politics, and urged the audience to strive for the 2015 goal.

“Here in New London, we are in the business of making the impossible possible,” he said.

Lillian Cook, a 16-year-old Norwich Free Academy student and member of the , gave a spoken word performance that declared, “I am not my circumstances.” Rev. Carolyn Patierno of the closed the event, asking people not to forget about those who have been lost to the disease.

“It has been a long road to hope,” said Patierno. “And how can we go forward without hope?”