World AIDS Day – “Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility”

World AIDS Day was first marked in 1988 and for the last 32 years, it has been observed on December 1st each year. Given the raging COVID-19 pandemic, it is fitting that the theme this is year is “Global solidarity, shared responsibility”.

Reducing the spread of AIDS has required a global response including education about preventative measures, as well as new drug regimens to prevent contraction and to reduce the viral loads of those who are HIV-positive. While there is still no cure for AIDS, all of these measures plus social responsibility have slowed the spread of the disease. The aggressive spread of COVID-19 requires a similar effort, which is why organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) remain important. Without a coordinated global response to stop these diseases, isolated approaches will have limited impact on containing the spread.

Unfortunately, the fight against COVID-19 has had a negative impact on HIV prevention around the global, most notably, due to disruption with testing and treatment efforts. This disruption is threatening lives.

FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Globally, 12.6 million people living with HIV still lack access to treatment.
• An estimated 38 million people are living with HIV.
• HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed 33 million lives so far.
• By June 2020, 26 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy, marking a 2.4 percent increase from an estimate of 25.4 million at the end of 2019.

While the global community has made major strides with HIV prevention and treatment over the past decades, the facts above show that there is still so much more to be done to end the HIV epidemic. On World AIDS Day 2020, let’s show our support for people around the world who are living with HIV and remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.

Health is a basic human right, and we must demand that our governments make investments in healthcare a top priority to insure basic universal health care coverage for everyone to end the spread of illnesses, such as, AIDS and COVID-19. Coming together as a global community unimpeded by geographic boundaries or political affiliation is the only way we can ever defeat these types of diseases. Let’s redouble our efforts!

TO LEARN MORE: Visit World AIDS Day 2020

TO DONATE: Visit WorldAidDays.org

www.daddyhuntapp.com/blog/2020/12/1/world-aids-day-global-solidarity-shared-responsibility