Wanda Collier said she hoped her life and her dance would be an inspiration to those who gathered at Gilbert-Lambuth Chapel on Tuesday night.
The 40-year-old mother of five performed a spiritual dance to Marvin Sapp's Never Would Have Made It during Paine College's Candlelight Walk and program for World AIDS Day.
After living 19 years with HIV, she said she knows the true meaning of the song. She also knows the dangers of ignorance.
"The black community is losing so many right now because of fear and a lack of knowledge," she said. "This day is still important because of so many people still getting infected. I could be your daughter, your sister, your aunt. We all are affected."
The worldwide day of remembrance began in 1988, and each year millions come together to remember those living with HIV and AIDS and those who have died. About 100 people gathered at Paine on Tuesday, walking with candles from the chapel to Laney High School's stadium.
This year's theme was "Light for Human Rights/Stop AIDS Keep the Promise," said Sandra Wimberly, the health educator for the East Central Health District, which includes Richmond, Columbia and Burke counties.
As of Sept. 30, 2008, 2,521 people in the district had been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS. As of Dec. 31, 563 were living with HIV or AIDS in Aiken County, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
"We are making the promise to educate and pushing to stop the stigma that keeps people from feeling comfortable getting tested," Ms. Wimberly said. "They can live a normal life with this disease. You couldn't say that 28 years ago."
Dr. Tina Marshall-Bradley, the assistant to Paine's provost, said she has become more informed since participating in last year's candlelight walk. She said people living with AIDS and HIV still struggle for respect and equal access to health care.
"There's so much more we need to do to remove the social limits to health care access and the financial limits to access," she said.
Ms. Collier said acceptance in the black community could lead to a greater number getting tested and more receiving care. She uses her story of fighting drug addiction and surviving HIV to raise awareness.
"I hope it's an awakening for people," she said. "Now I can redeem myself and speak out and let other people know you can live with this."
Reach Stephanie Toone at (803) 648-1395 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.
who caused the aids problem and why isn't there outrage at the source?
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