Pope appeals for reduction in HIV cases

Calling himself "spiritually close" to those suffering from AIDS, Pope Benedict XVI said this week that more efforts needed to be made to stop the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

World AIDS Day, which was this past Saturday, brought out the Pope's words on the subject due to the amount of suffering the condition causes, along with the affects it has on children. The Pope said "I am asking all people of goodwill to multiply efforts to stop the spread of the HIV virus, to oppose the scorn that often strikes those affected and to take care of the sick, especially the children."

In poor countries where hunger is rampant and governments are corrupt, AIDS continues to be a huge problem for economies and health. According to a United Nations food agency, the key to fighting AIDS in these countries lies in reducing hunger, as famished people are more likely to fall victim to infectious and chronic diseases. This, in turn, makes it incredibly hard for those afflicted to provide food for themselves and their family.