Found this piece from my notes, a piece from my 2022 photo essay contest. I made some grammatical changes that my not-so-old self didn’t notice.
The Red Line of the Past
As we all know prevention is better than cure, therefore we must all have awareness of the thing we called HIV, a virus that weakens the immune system of the individual. This might be caused by unprotected sex, illicit injection drug use or sharing needles, contact with infected blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. It might occur to everyone no matter how young or old you are and what gender you may have.
Today, as part of youth, we remember, we must remember how we are educated enough to fight against HIV. We have been part of campaigns, symposiums, and programs that battle this cancer of society. We are very much reminded of the many things connected with HIV, the victims, its causes, and especially the way to prevent it. Remembering this can help to fight HIV, and it is one of the best ways to prevent it. We cannot deny that it is an invisible enemy, in fact, it is more difficult to avoid for this reason. But if we remain reminded we can restrain it from attacking us.
Our remembrance of them, should not only be memory, so it should be used in action and suppression. Our avoidance of the things that cause it, is an act that shows our solidarity in its suppression. We take action, as what should an individual must do. The right actions of an individual to not become a victim. We also take action on bringing awareness to others, helping them to be away from harm.
Together with this awareness and actions, we can all live beyond HIV. As youth, we are all in this goal to suppress and cut the long line of HIV victims. We are all in the line where we live beyond HIV. We do not tolerate this thing, instead, we are on the aim of taking a step to minimize it, avoiding multiplication. Years and years had passed, but this remains a big burden on society. It is our time to reflect, act, and live. It is not too late to do such kind of things, the red line of HIV victims, should not be lengthened. We all must remember, we must take action, and we must live beyond HIV.
