Let's Talk About: World AIDS Day
December 1st is known internationally as World AIDS Day and it’s a day to commemorate those who have been lost to the disease and to raise awareness and promote education about HIV and AIDS. It’s been held every year since 1988 and aims to educate with a view to eventually eliminating it. Statistics from the World Health Organisation indicate that up to 2017, AIDS had killed an estimated 28.9 million to 41.5 million people across the globe, with an additional 36.7 million people living with HIV worldwide, making it one of the most prominent global health issues the world has ever seen.
Treatment for HIV and AIDS in recent years has improved greatly with antiretroviral treatments, PEP and PrEP available and greater education and access to healthcare, but the fight is far from over. Not only is it still spreading, but the stigma for those suffering is very real, which is another thing awareness from World AIDS Day aims to stamp out.
In the 1980s and 1990s, it was mistakenly synonymous with the gay community, with some calling it the Gay Plague or Gay Cancer, though this virus doesn’t care who you are, what gender you are or what sexual identity you are. It can be sexually transmitted or transmitted through contact with, or transfer of, bodily fluids. Non sexual transmission can also occur from a mother to a baby during pregnancy or childbirth or even through breast milk. The virus works to destroy the body’s immune system and allows other opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive.
The misconceptions of about the disease are just one of the dangers. Education and awareness still remain our greatest weapons in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Nobody is exempt from the disease, regardless of their lifestyle, be they gay, straight, black, white, rich or poor it is a problem that affects us all yet despite this there is still a startling lack of education given to us, with myth and misconception dominating perceptions of both the condition and it's means of transmission. For example a recent rumour that was circulating stated that you can catch it from a fish pedicure. You can't! Although sex education in schools has improved over the years, there’s still not enough education on the subject of HIV and AIDS or even some other sexually transmitted infections – we’re expected to look for ourselves. So if you don’t know – Ask. Find out. Do some reading. These days, information is all at our fingertips and it’s up to us to educate ourselves if we’re to change the world. Let education be your sword and shield in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Just because it’s not the subject of the terrifying adverts some of us will remember from the 1980s doesn’t mean it’s not still out there.
The Red Ribbon is the symbol of the AIDS awareness movement and you’ll often see people wearing them on December 1st, as well as on posters and, in some places, as part of art and sculpture installations to mark the day and to raise awareness – for instance, the Obelisk of Buenos Ares in Argentina had a giant red condom placed over it in 2005 to mark World AIDS Day.
There is a theme for each year and these have included Communication in 1988, Women and AIDS in 1990, Shared Rights and Shared Responsibilities in 1995, Stigma and Discrimination in 2002 ands 2003, Know Your Status in 2018 and many, many more. Last year’s theme was ‘Communities Make The Difference’ highlighting how we all need to work together to educate, raise awareness and care for each other. We’re all one global community after all, let’s take a look around and make things a little better. So, this week, I come to you with some homework – Educate yourself a little. Just a few minutes reading if that’s all you can spare, but expand your knowledge on HIV and AIDS a little – Even if you think you know it all, take a look – and encourage others to do the same. And if you can, pop a donation into an HIV and AIDS research charity near you – Every little helps.
Together, we can make a difference.
Stay safe out there – Lots of love, Vida.
