“Take the rights path: My Health, my right”
The theme of the 2024 World AIDS Day: “Take the rights path: My Health, my right” is a global theme and not a mere political reflection. More importantly, World AIDS Day has fallen on December 1 since 1988 to “raise awareness about HIV and AIDS” and also to remember the victims of the disease. The Red Ribbon, first used in 1991, is the universal symbol for awareness and support of those individuals who live with HIV.
We have come so far with assisting people with AIDS live longer but there is so much more to be done. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) “Since the beginning of the epidemic, 88.4 million [71.3–112.8 million] people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 42.3 million [35.7–51.1 million] people have died of HIV. Globally, 39.9 million [36.1–44.6 million] people were living with HIV at the end of 2023. An estimated 0.6% [0.6-0.7%] of adults aged 15–49 years worldwide are living with HIV, although the burden of the epidemic continues to vary considerably between countries and regions.
In addition, WHO says the “African Region remains most severely affected, with one in every 30 adults (3.4%) living with HIV and accounting for more than two-thirds of the people living with HIV worldwide”
So what can we do to “raise awareness?”
Practice compassion.
Educate yourself and others on risk factors that contribute to transmission of HIV that can lead to AIDS on places like; cdc.gov, unaids.org and who.int/campaigns. Using knowledge that is obtained from places, like the, use your voice to lift up the voices of those with HIV/AIDS. Spread information not stigmatization. Remember and honor those who have been lost to AIDS. Lastly, have hope for a world that moves toward increase access to treatment and prevention.
Together, we can assist those living with HIV/AIDS to choose their health path and not be destined by it.
In WNY, find more resources here and here and here.
Christine Ziemba
Director of Special Projects
