Rock the Red Pump

Today is National Women’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. As part of their mission to educate everyone on this disease, Red Pump Project, has organized an Internet campaign to raise awareness and spread information.

Over 1200 bloggers have teamed up together to "Rock the Red Pump" and represent the strength and courage of women fighting HIV/AIDS or affected by the disease both directly and indirectly. At the end of 2009, there were 30.8 million adults living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Women accounted for just over half of all the adults affected (15.9 million). In the U.S., there are approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. Of those infected nearly 280,000 were women and it is the 5th leading cause of death in women in the United States, ages 25-44.

I couldn't wear my beloved red pumps to the office today, but I still wanted to address this on the blog. The red pump is a symbol to young women and girls everywhere that we, as women, have the right and responsibility to protect ourselves. You are worthy of being loved by someone who will cherish and respect you. Young women should not be afraid to speak up on their behalf. The red pump is also a teaching tool to help our our young men understand that they should respect a woman’s decision and right to protect herself. And to let these young men know that they too should want to protect themselves too.

Today, lets raise awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls! To learn more, visit The Red Pump Project.