December 1st is World AIDS Day
Posted December 1, 2017 by Premier Disability Services, LLC®World AIDS Day, which has taken place on December 1st of each year since 1988, is a global initiative to raise awareness, fight prejudice, and improve education about HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. This year’s theme is “My Health, My Right.”
Around the world, about 37 million people are living with HIV, and as of 2017 approximately 30 million individuals have died of the disease. In the United States, about 37,600 people get infected with HIV every year. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. It’s important that everyone ages 15 to 65 gets tested for HIV at least once. Some people may need to get tested more often.
How can World AIDS Day make a difference? We can use this day to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, encourage people to get tested, and take action to support people living with HIV.
Here are just a few ideas:
- Encourage people to get tested for HIV. Let them know that some health clinics offer free HIV testing.
- Talk to parents about teaching their kids the basics of safe sex.
- Wear a red ribbon, the symbol of HIV awareness and support. Tell people why you are wearing it. You can order a red ribbon online — or make your own.
Source: https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/DecemberToolkit.aspx
By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC®
