World AIDS day is recognized as an opportunity for people to come together and fight against HIV. They show support for the people living with HIV. World AIDS day falls on December 1st every year. It gives people an opportunity to come together and fight against HIV, support them who are suffering from HIV and remember those who died due to HIV or any other AIDS-related illness. World AIDS Day was founded in 1988. It is considered as the first ever global health day. Last year in 2019, on World AIDS Day, WHO highlighted the communities suffering from AIDS. They gave them broader attention by creating engagement and strengthening the primary health issues. It concludes that 37.9 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2018. 79% of them received proper testing but only 62% pf them received required treatment and 53% of them reduced their risks of HIV transmission.
World AIDS Day – Date, History, Significance & Celebration
Many people including workers, people suffering and key population networks contributed to the success of this initiative against the epidemic. HIV is considered to be one of the major health issues due to which more than 32 million people died so far. However, with the help of modern technologies and medication, it is much more easy to detect and cure now at early stages. It has become a manageable chronic health issue which enabled the people suffering from HIV to live a long and healthy life.
Due to the international efforts to fight against this epidemic, services are being increased rapidly. People are receiving lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART). Around 82% of pregnant women suffering from HIV who are breastfeeding received ART. It not only protects their health and life but also prevents the transmission of HIV to the new borns.
From the years 2000-2018, HIV infections and suffering people fell down to 37% and death rate fell down to 45% saving 13.6 million lives. It is true there is no cure for HIV diseases but with the help of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) we can prevent the further transmission pf this disease.
World AIDS day was established by James W Bunn and Thomas Netter in August 1987. They were the public information officers for Global program on HIV AIDS at WHO in Switzerland. They took the idea to their Director to call this initiative by the name UNAIDS. Director approved it.
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However, the full form of HIV AIDS is Human Immunodeficiency Virus – Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. It is a very chronic and life-threatening disease which has took many lives. It reduces the immunity of a person to fight against any disease. It is a transmission disease and it is transmitted via exchange of body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk.