On December 1st, 1988, World AIDS Day was the first-ever assigned global health day to bring people together worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.
What is AIDS?
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) targets the immune system and weakens people's defence against many infections and some types of cancer that people with healthy immune systems can fight off. As the virus destroys and impairs the function of immune cells, infected individuals gradually become immunodeficient. The most advanced stage of HIV infection is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which can take many years to develop if not treated, depending on the individual. AIDS is defined by the development of certain cancers, infections or other severe long-term clinical manifestations. There is currently no cure for HIV treatment though it can be managed by treatment regimens composed of a combination of three or more antiretroviral drugs.
Why is World Aids day Important?
Globally, 79.3 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and 38 million people have died from HIV since 1984, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history. Globally, 37.7 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2020. World AIDS Day is important because it reminds the public and government that HIV has not gone away – there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education, even though many scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment.
Stigma Around AIDS
HIV Stigma and Discrimination
HIV stigma is rooted in a fear of HIV. There are still misconceptions about how HIV is transmitted and what it means to live with HIV today. HIV stigma is negative attitudes and beliefs about people with HIV. It is the prejudice that comes with labelling an individual as part of a group that is believed to be socially unacceptable. Examples include believing that only certain groups of people can get HIV, making moral judgments about people who take steps to prevent HIV transmission, and feeling that people deserve to get HIV because of their choices. HIV stigma and discrimination affect the emotional well-being and mental health of people living with HIV as they often internalize the stigma they experience and begin to develop a negative self-image. They may fear they will be discriminated against or judged negatively if their HIV status is revealed. HIV internalized stigma can lead to feelings of shame, fear of disclosure, isolation, and despair. These feelings can keep people from getting tested and treated for HIV.
Statistics
-Black/African American people are most affected by HIV. In 2019, Black/African American people accounted for 42% of all new HIV diagnoses.
-Hispanic/Latino people accounted for 29% of all new HIV diagnoses.
-Young people aged 13 to 24 are especially affected by HIV. In 2019, young people accounted for 21% of all new HIV diagnoses.
-Young gay and bisexual men accounted for 83% of all new HIV diagnoses in people aged 13 to 24
-Young Black/African American gay and bisexual men are even more severely affected, as they represented 50% of new HIV diagnoses among young gay and bisexual men.
What you can do to Show Your Support
Talking openly about HIV can help normalize the subject. It also provides opportunities to correct misconceptions and help others learn more about HIV. But be mindful of how you talk about HIV and people living with HIV. You can also make pledges to stop HIV stigma by downloading a pledge card to customize and post on your social media. There are also a variety of organizations you can donate to such as the International AIDS society.
Resources