The first of December is
considered as the World AIDS day around the globe. This is the day when people
unite and take a vow against the dreaded disease, donate for the betterment of
the people infected with the virus and remember those who succumbed to it. The
HIV/AIDS awareness and support is typically shown by displaying a red ribbon
pinned to their dresses.
The world has seen a number of
AIDS days come and go by with the first ever World AIDS day coined in 1988.
From the day it was started, a number of campaigns and even have been organized
to spread awareness amongst the people. The theme for World AIDS Day this year
is "Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation."
AIDS/HIV - Health Education
Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about AIDS information and health education.
The credit for conceptualizing a day wholly for AIDS and its awareness goes to two public information officers for the Global Program on AIDS at the World Health Organization, James Bunn and Thomas Netter. Dr Jonathan Mann, the former head of the Global Program on Aids (known now as UNAIDS) approved the idea.
Impact of World AIDS day
on people
In 2013, 35 million people were living with HIV, 2.1 million people were newly infected with the virus and some 1.5 million people died of AIDS according to UN data. HIV/AIDS is one of the worst pandemics of the world; by far the greatest part of the HIV/AIDS burden is in sub-Saharan Africa. The World AIDS day plays a major role in creating awareness and drawing attention to the current status of the disease.
![AIDS - Initial Theories and Disease Progression]( "AIDS - Initial Theories and Disease Progression")
AIDS was first detected in early 1980s, among gays, Haitians and black Africans. HIV is a descendant of a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus.
So far a lot of people have been educated on AIDS and its prevention. The LGBT community, commercial sex workers etc are the groups that have been targeted the most by HIV and the number of infections has reduced due to the tireless campaigns and awareness programs of the officials. According to a leading campaign group working against HIV, the world has finally reached "the beginning of the end" of the AIDS pandemic that has infected and killed millions in the past 30 years. The number of people getting infected with HIV last year was significantly lesser than the number of HIV-positive people.
Still a long way to go
Even though it seems as if the end of AIDS is nearing, officials belonging to Anti-AIDS organizations warn that reaching this milestone does not mean the end of AIDS was around the corner. Just the tipping point has been passed at the global level. There are many countries that are just joining the fight against AIDS.
Social stigma attached to HIV/AIDS, the average person being scared of sharing a drink with a HIV infected person etc, shows that people need to become a lot more aware of the disease. Hence, the importance of World AIDS day is to pledge to ourselves that we will be more humane to the HIV infected people and donate as much as we can to the cause.
Source: Medindia
In 2013, 35 million people were living with HIV, 2.1 million people were newly infected with the virus and some 1.5 million people died of AIDS according to UN data. HIV/AIDS is one of the worst pandemics of the world; by far the greatest part of the HIV/AIDS burden is in sub-Saharan Africa. The World AIDS day plays a major role in creating awareness and drawing attention to the current status of the disease.
AIDS - Initial Theories and Disease Progression
AIDS was first detected in early 1980s, among gays, Haitians and black Africans. HIV is a descendant of a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus.
So far a lot of people have been educated on AIDS and its prevention. The LGBT community, commercial sex workers etc are the groups that have been targeted the most by HIV and the number of infections has reduced due to the tireless campaigns and awareness programs of the officials. According to a leading campaign group working against HIV, the world has finally reached "the beginning of the end" of the AIDS pandemic that has infected and killed millions in the past 30 years. The number of people getting infected with HIV last year was significantly lesser than the number of HIV-positive people.
Still a long way to go
Even though it seems as if the end of AIDS is nearing, officials belonging to Anti-AIDS organizations warn that reaching this milestone does not mean the end of AIDS was around the corner. Just the tipping point has been passed at the global level. There are many countries that are just joining the fight against AIDS.
Social stigma attached to HIV/AIDS, the average person being scared of sharing a drink with a HIV infected person etc, shows that people need to become a lot more aware of the disease. Hence, the importance of World AIDS day is to pledge to ourselves that we will be more humane to the HIV infected people and donate as much as we can to the cause.
Source: Medindia
AIDS/HIV - Worldwide distribution and Risk of Transmission
Epidemiologic studies indicate three broad yet distinct geographic patterns of transmission
 World AIDS Day 2014World AIDS Day aims at encouraging public support to prevent the spread of HIV infection as well as provide awareness and education about HIV/AIDS in all countries of the world. |
Latest AIDS/HIV News
A new study has found that the co-localization of tuberculosis disease and HIV in lymphatic tissues leads to the emergence of potent HIV antibodies.
Specific antiviral drug that is widely used to treat smallpox patients since last summer's outbreak is found to produce similar outcomes regardless of the patient's HIV status.
In susceptible communities because of poverty, and racism, the effects of inadequate STI and HIV screening may be more profound.
In India, annual HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths continue to drop. Between 2010 and 2021, new HIV infections dropped by 46%.
Globally, all countries have promised to end AIDS by 2030, for which it is essential to safeguard individuals living with HIV to complete HIV care services.
