It doesn't care what color your skin is, what religion you practice or what language you speak. It doesn't notice your gender or age and it's well beyond affluency and location. All it cares about is what runs in your veins.
HIV/AIDS affects people worldwide and two men from India are making sure Americans know it.
Giri Kumar Makarla and Surya Prakash Makarla are bicycling across America, from Toronto to Mexico City, to promote HIV/AIDS awareness through AIDS Ride 2008.
"Every community in every county needs to be aware of the HIV/AIDS problem," Surya said. "It is not something that just affects one country or one [person]."
The cyclists plan to pedal more than 2,360 miles, bridging the gap between the major International AIDS Conferences, the one that held in Toronto in 2006 and this year's conference in Mexico City.
They said that they hope to arrive in Mexico City Aug. 3, the day the AIDS 2008 Conference begins.
The two are part of the organization B'Care, a grassroots organization that started in 2003 in both India and Canada to prevent the further transmission of HIV/AIDS through education and awareness.
The trip began June 7, and Surya and Giri have been camping, staying with friends and living on hospitality, which has been "so far so good."
They have organized awareness event in cities along the route. In fact, they were going to stop in Cincinnati Sunday night, but because of the weather, decided to move on to Louisville.
While the trip itself is designed to promote awareness, it has served another purpose as well.
"Biking across America has been an eye-opener and I've seen a lot of things I didn't expect," he said. "I don't think normal Americans get to experience the beauty of this country, so I'm fortunate to get to."
Although some of the things they've seen have not been so beautiful, like road kill and destroyed fauna, some have been interesting.
"We saw the Amish and thought it was very weird that they didn’t' want to use technology," Surya said. "But sometimes not having technology means those communities are not able to get access to information about HIV/AIDS."
Although the Surya and Giri have another 1,700 miles to go, it's "already been quite an experience," Surya said.
"We have to work with commitment and sincerity because what we are doing might help the future global community," Surya added.
"It doesn't matter where we are from as long as we are human. AIDS doesn't discriminate and it's everyone's duty to fight it."
Although Surya and Giri didn't stop in Cincinnati, the Northern Kentucky Health Department is picking up their cause.
Northern Kentucky residents are invited to receive free HIV tests this Friday in honor of National HIV Testing Day.
Attendees will not be required to make an appointment in order to receive a test and their identities will be held in strictest confidence. Each individual tested will receive education on HIV/AIDS as well as information about personal risk factors.
"Knowing your HIV status… affords you the opportunity to protect yourself and your partner," said Steven R. Katkowsky, M.D., District Director of Health in a news release, "early… diagnosis can lead to successful treatment."
Those individuals that test positive will be offered Counseling and assistance with treatment through the Health Department's HIV/AIDS Case Management Program. In addition to the National Testing Day events, the Health Department will also offer free, anonymous, walk-in rapid oral testing from 5-8 p.m.
Northern Kentucky has the third highest number of HIV/AIDS cases in the state, with 393 reported cases from 1982-2007 in an eight-county region.
For more information about National HIV Testing Day or HIV testing, call the Community Health Promotion office at (859) 578-7660 or visit NkyHealth.org.
Free HIV tests as well as other services will be offered across the region. Here is a list of available testing sites.
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