Your Partner in EMS

World AIDS Day

2009-12-01T17:02:00

December 1st is World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day was established by the World Health Organization in 1988. This day allows governments, national AIDS programs, faith organizations, community organizations, and individuals an opportunity to raise awareness and focus attention on the global AIDS epidemic.

According to the CDC at the end of 2006 an estimated 1.1 million people were living with diagnosed or undiagnosed HIV infection in the United States. Worldwide an estimated 33 million people are living with HIV.

It doesn’t have to be World AIDS Day to take action against HIV/AIDS but now is as good as any day to start. Here are some ideas on how you can take action today:

Get tested for HIV – there are home HIV tests now available

Practice safer methods to prevent HIV – don’t share needles, use condoms

Decide not to engage in high risk behaviors – alcohol/drug abuse which could impair your judgment, sharing needles, unprotected sex

Talk about HIV prevention with family, friends and colleagues – there is endless HIV educational material out there, it’s just a matter of getting it out there

Provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS – do not discriminate, don’t be afraid

Get involved with or host an event for World AIDS Day in your community – it can be any day really, there’s National Women & Girls AIDS Awareness Day, National HIV Testing Day, etc.

Sources: cdc.gov, hhs.gov