Katie Couric's Notebook: World AIDS Day

I think the same message applies today...on World AIDS Day. It's estimated that more than one million Americans have HIV, as many as 33 million people worldwide.

If you've never been tested, you should be. It's painless and quick...and it's the right thing to do.

Here in the United States, education and access to treatment have brought the number of AIDS related deaths down over the past decade. That isn't the case in Africa. There are currently more than 12 million orphans...children who've lost one or both parents to AIDS...and the number is going up...not down.

Africa is losing a generation to a preventable plague.

Safe sex and HIV testing are our personal responsibilities. Caring for children who were never given a choice...that's the responsibility of the world.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.