World AIDS Day 2023: Know Its Significance And How Communities Will Lead The Fight Against HIV On December 1

Every year, the world celebrates AIDS Day on December 1 to spread awareness around the immunodeficiency disease, which currently has no cure, but misinformation on the subject is in bulk. People neither are aware of how it spreads nor they understand that the disease is not communicable i.e. it does not spread by touching, sitting together, or shaking hands.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other organisations introduce a new theme every year to spread in-depth awareness on the subject so that patients do not experience discrimination. The agenda of observing this day is to promote healthy life standards for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)-AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) patients and break the stigma around it.

World AIDS Day 2023 Theme

The theme of World AIDS Day this year is ‘Let Communities Lead’. It commemorates the role of communities in shaping the landscape of awareness around HIV-AIDS. From impacting a small town to influencing leaders of the world, many communities have been at the forefront of fighting against the taboo associated with the disease and its patients.

In 2023, global leaders will use this opportunity to reflect on the progress made so far and spread awareness to overcome challenges and beat AIDS by 2030.

World AIDS Day History

James W. Bunn and Thomas Nettler, public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the WHO in Geneva, Switzerland, laid the foundation of World AIDS Day in 1987. Hence, it was first observed on December 1, 1988, following the US elections that were supposed to be wrapped up before Christmas. The idea was to get World AIDS Day maximum coverage by Western news outlets.

In the 1990s, the celebration of World AIDS Day caught up with the rest of the world as learned people joined the forces to spread awareness, disseminate accurate information, and urge people to get tested regularly. In the past, the themes have focused on ‘zero deaths related to AIDS’, ‘AIDS-free generation’, ‘Zero new HIV infections’, ‘Zero discrimination against HIV patients’, etc.

World AIDS Day Significance

World AIDS Day marks the celebration of solidarity of people, communities, healthcare staff, and patients against the disease. Nations around the globe come together to speak on the subject, spread awareness about it, and ensure that patients do not face discrimination.

Everyone who joins the fight has a single task to spread accurate information about the disease. They encourage regular testing and promote safe sex practices to minimise the risks of getting infected by HIV.

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What Is HIV-AIDS And How It Spreads?

HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system of the person, and it can be treated and managed under the supervision of a healthcare expert. However, if it remains undiagnosed and untreated, it leads to AIDS in which the immunity of the person remains compromised.

There is no treatment for HIV-AIDS (HIV-AIDS Myths) currently, but medical science has advanced enough that it can be managed. Patients undergoing effective treatment can live a healthy life. According to the WHO, a few symptoms of infection include,

• Headache
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Swollen lymph glands
• Muscle pain
• Diarrhoea
• Night sweats
• Mouth sores
• Fatigue

How HIV Is Transmitted?

HIV can be transmitted via

• Semen
• Blood
• Sexual contact
• Breast milk
• Mucus

Patients and their friends, colleagues, and family members should not believe misinformation that the virus is transmitted via sneezing, coughing, spitting, shaking hands, sharing a meal, or sitting together. For further queries, you should consult a healthcare expert.