World AIDS Day is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic. World AIDS Day takes place on 1 December each year. It’s an opportunity for people 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.
World AIDS Day is one of the eleven official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO). It was the first-ever global health day.
History of World Aids Day
World AIDS Day was first conceived in August 1987 by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Bunn and Netter took their idea to Dr. Jonathan Mann, Director of the Global Programme on AIDS (now known as UNAIDS) who approved and recommended to observe World AIDS Day on December 1. The first observance of World AIDS Day was held on 1 December 1988.
United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) is the main advocate for accelerated, comprehensive and coordinated global action on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. UNAIDS is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Themes of World AIDS Day
|
2021 |
End inequalities. End AIDS |
|
2020 |
Global Solidarity Shared Responsibility |
|
2019 |
Communities Make the Difference |
|
2018 |
Know your Status |
|
2017 |
My Health, My Right |
|
2016 |
Hands up for #HIVprevention |
|
2015 |
On the Fast Track to End AIDS |
|
2014 |
Close the Gap |
|
2013 |
Zero Discrimination27 |
|
2012 |
Together We Will End AIDS |
|
2011 |
Getting to Zero] |
|
2010 |
Universal Access and Human Rights |
What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a serious disease and has caused millions of deaths since the 1980s. Though there is no cure for AIDS, it can be treated effectively. AIDS is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS happens after someone has had HIV for many years. HIV causes the immune system to be severely weakened, resulting in serious infections and health problems.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system. The immune system is our body’s disease-fighting system. When the immune system is affected and gets weak, all kinds of diseases will attack our body.
HIV enters the body through contact with infected blood or other body fluids. Once they are inside our body, they kills the helper cells. Helper cells are part of the body’s immune system, which fights off disease. Because of their weak immune systems, most HIV-infected people will easily get other infections and diseases. The most common infections include tuberculosis and a certain type of pneumonia. They also gets a type of cancer called Kaposi sarcoma.
As mentioned above, HIV is spread through body fluids. One can get infected through the following ways:
- By having sex
- By sharing needles
- From blood transfusions
- During pregnancy or delivery or through breast-feeding
HIV is not spread through ordinary contact. A person will not get infected by socialising with HIV infected people. It will not be spread through hugging or sharing meals.
Treatment for HIV/AIDS
Currently, there's no cure for HIV / AIDS. However, there are many medications that can control HIV and prevent complications. These medications are called antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Try AIDS Quiz to test your knowledge
AIDS in India
India has the third-largest HIV epidemic in the world, with 2.1 million people living with HIV. Compared to neighbouring countries, India has made good progress in reducing new HIV infections by half since 2001.
As per the recently released, India HIV Estimation 2019 report, overall, the estimated adult (15–49 years) HIV prevalence trend has been declining in India since the epidemic’s peak in the year 2000 and has been stabilizing in recent years. The estimate for this indicator was 0.22% (0.17–0.29%) in 2019. Between 2010 and 2017 new infections declined by 27% and AIDS-related deaths more than halved, falling by 56%.
State/UT-wise, Maharashtra was estimated to have the highest number of new HIV infections in 2019 (8.54 thousand), followed by Bihar (8.04 thousand), Uttar Pradesh (6.72 thousand), West Bengal (3.97 thousand), Gujarat (3.37 thousand) and Delhi (2.99 thousand). The highest adult HIV prevalence were from the north-eastern part of the country, namely Mizoram (2.32% [1.85–2.84%]), Nagaland (1.45% [1.15–1.78%]), and Manipur (1.18% [0.97–1.46%]) NACO
Further information