World AIDS Day 2020: World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 every year to raise awareness about the disease. AIDS or Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome is a pandemic disease that is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The disease leads to a weak immune system and people get exposed to more vulnerable infections and diseases.
HIV is found in all the tissues, transmitted via blood, semen, breast milk, etc. It mainly affects the T-cells in the immune system and it is transmitted through blood transmission, sexual contact, etc. HIV symptoms include joint pain, fever, muscle ache, sore throat, weight loss, weakness, among others.
World AIDS Day History
The history of World AIDS Day dates back to 1987. Two public information officers of the ‘Global Program on AIDS’ James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter took their proposal for World AIDS Day to its director Jonathan Mann, who liked the idea. A year later, it was decided that December 1 will be celebrated as World AIDS Day.
World AIDS Day Theme
World AIDS Day 2020 theme is a reminder of everything that can be achieved, when we together focus on the impact by delivering high-quality services for treatment and prevention of HIV, to the ones who are in need. It also focuses on tackling stigma and discrimination against people with HIV.
World AIDS Day Objective
- To build new and effective policies and programs to strengthen our healthcare,
- Help find ways so that HIV/AIDS patients can live longer,
- To decrease the number of patients infected by HIV/AIDS
- Offer technical support to society for prevention and treatment,
- To raise awareness among people about cures to help fight against HIV infection.
World AIDS Day Myths
HIV AIDS is not caused by touching the patient, kissing, using used condoms, sneeze or spit, sharing toilets, cutlery, water, sterilised needles, etc.
As per World Health Organisation (WHO), around 37.9 million people were affected by HIV by the end of 2018. 62 percent of these received treatment, while 53 people achieved suppression of the HIV virus with a reduced risk of infecting others.
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