Introduction
World AIDS Day on 1 December brings together people from around the world to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic. The day is an opportunity for public and private partners to spread awareness about the status of the pandemic and encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care in high prevalence countries and around the world.
The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round and particularly around World AIDS Day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind others of the need for their support and commitment.
The red ribbon started as a "grass roots" effort; as a result there is no one official AIDS ribbon manufacturer, and many people make their own. It's easily done - just use some ordinary red ribbon and a safety pin!
If you want to take your awareness raising a step further then try finding a local event to take part in. Around the world there are hundreds of activities taking place to mark World AIDS Day, including AIDS walks, art shows, auctions, dinners etc. Or maybe just donate some bucks to a trustworthy organization in order to help finding a cure!
Getting to Zero
Between 2011-2015, World AIDS Days will have the theme of Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS-Related Deaths.. The World AIDS Campaign focus on "Zero AIDS related deaths" signifies a push towards greater access to treatment for all; a call for governments to act now.
The decision to go with the millennium development related goal of "Getting to Zero" comes after extensive discussions among people living with HIV, health activists, broader civil society and many others – more than a hundred organizations in all.
Social Media: # CloseTheGap
The World AIDS Day 2014 focuses on "Close the Gap". Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is possible, but only by closing the gap between people who have access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services and people who are being left behind.
Closing the gap means empowering and enabling all people, everywhere, to access the services they need.
- By closing the HIV testing gap, the 19 million people who are unaware of their HIV-positive status can begin to get support.
- By closing the treatment gap, all 35 million people living with HIV will have access to life-saving medicine.
- By closing the gap in access to medicines for children, all children living with HIV will be able to access treatment, not just the 24% who have access today.
- By closing the access gap, all people can be included as part of the solution.
The Facts
UNAIDS estimates that more than 37.2 million people around the world are currently living with HIV/AIDS, while around 78 million people are infected with HIV and estimated 39 miilion have died of AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.
- Worldwide, 2.1 million [people became newly infected with HIV in 2013.
- In 2013, around 12.9 million people living with HIV had access to antiretroviral therapy.
- Tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV
- Globally, gay men and other men who have sex with men are 19 times more likely to be living with HIV than the general population.
- HIV prevalence among sex workers is 12 times greater than among the general population.
- Transgender women are 49 times more likely to acquire HIV than all adults of reproductive age.
- HIV prevalence is estimated to be up to 28 times higher among people who inject drugs than the general population.
What can I do? - Get involved by wearing a red ribbon
The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round and particularly around World AIDS Day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind others of the need for their support and commitment.
The red ribbon started as a "grass roots" effort; as a result there is no one official AIDS ribbon manufacturer, and many people make their own. It's easily done - just use some ordinary red ribbon and a safety pin!
If you want to take your awareness raising a step further then try finding a local event to take part in. Around the world there are hundreds of activities taking place to mark World AIDS Day, including AIDS walks, art shows, auctions, dinners etc. Or maybe just donate some bucks to a trustworthy organization in order to help finding a cure!
Information
AIDS.org
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