World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has killed more than 25 million peopleFact|date=April 2008, with an estimated 38.6 million people living with HIVFact|date=April 2008, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2005, of which more than half a million (570,000) were children.

The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, it has been taken up by governments, international organizations and charities around the world.

From its inception until 2004, UNAIDS spearheaded the World AIDS Day campaign, choosing annual themes in consultation with other global health organizations. In 2005 this responsibility was turned over to [http://www.worldaidscampaign.info World AIDS Campaign] (WAC), who chose "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise" as the main theme for World AIDS Day observances through 2010, with more specific sub-taglines chosen annually. This theme is not specific to World AIDS Day, but is used year-round in WAC's efforts to highlight HIV/AIDS awareness within the context of other major global events including the G8 Summit. World AIDS Campaign also conducts “in-country” campaigns throughout the world, like the "Student Stop AIDS Campaign", an infection-awareness campaign targeting young people throughout the UK.

It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995 the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.

World AIDS Day Themes 1988 - present

ee also

*World Hepatitis Day
*World Cancer Day

External links

* [http://www.uniteagainstaidsconcert.ca The Official Unite Against Aids Concert on World Aids Day]
* [http://www.napwa.org The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA)]
* [http://www.worldaidscampaign.info/index.php/wac/wac/the_wac The World AIDS Campaign]
* [http://www.avert.org/worldaid.htm AVERT.org's World AIDS Day page]
* [http://www.worldaidsday.org WorldAIDSDay.org]
* [http://www.kdkfactory.com/abcofhiv.htm ABC of HIV -PSA on HIV prevention]
* [http://www.aidsportal.org/events.aspx?nex=1003 AIDSPortal events page] World AIDS Day and other AIDS related events
* [http://www.engenderhealth.org/aids/ Engenderhealth and World AIDS Day]
* [http://www.aids.gov AIDS.gov - The U.S. Federal Domestic HIV/AIDS Resource]
* [http://www.HIVtest.org HIVtest.org - Find an HIV testing site near you]
* [http://www.netglimse.com/holidays/world_aids_day/index.shtml/ World AIDS Day]
* [http://www.kff.org/worldaidsday World AIDS Day] , Resources from the Kaiser Family Foundation
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k60HPQZzWs "Echoes Of Yourself in The Mirror" is a trailer for documentary that features Cleve Jones, creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, speaking at San Francisco State University during World AIDS Day]