World AIDS Day- December 1
Each year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
Each World AIDS Day focuses on a specific theme, which this year will be Global solidarity, shared responsibility. This year’s theme joins a growing list of challenges that World AIDS Day has alerted people to globally. FACT SHEET Global HIV statistics
Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever international day for global health. Every year, United Nations agencies, governments and civil society join together to campaign around specific themes related to HIV.
AIDS has not disappeared. It remains incurable and while it can be managed, treatment is very expensive and not available to many people throughout the world. Fortunately, there are preventative measures that are very effective (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP), but many of the at-risk populations are either uninformed or are unable to access these medications. Even simple condom use has become less prevalent as there is a prevailing false attitude that AIDS is no longer a terrible disease but just another treatable STD. National AIDS Day reminds us that the fight is not over: that a real cure needs to be found, preventative drugs needs to be available without negative stigma, and that AIDS education needs to be available to all.