Today, December 1st, is World AIDS Day. It’s an opportunity to be inspired to respect and protect the health and well-being of ourselves and those around us through knowledge, action and consideration.
According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2007 some 2.5 million people became newly infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.
Around 95% of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.
Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.
Source: Avert — averting HIV and AIDS
Here are a couple of videos to watch, the first promoting the Stop AIDS in Children campaign, and the second a video message marking World AIDS Day from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
More information can be found on the Avert Website. And there’s a separate page with extra information about this year’s particular campaign, “The Stop AIDS in Children Campaign“.
More information from the Archbishop’s website and from the Anglican Communion News Service.
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