Last Updated on Friday, 02 December 2011 14:49 Written by Paula Bravo de Siqueira Thursday, 01 December 2011 16:55

World AIDS Day, 1 December 2011

Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination, Zero AIDS-related deaths

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 every year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. In 1996 the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) became operational and took over the planning and promotion of World AIDS Day. Rather than focus on a single day, UNAIDS created the World AIDS Campaign in 1997 to focus on year-round communications, prevention and education.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the immune system caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV and AIDS infections are now responsible for over 1.8 million deaths annually. According to the latest report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), the prevalence of HIV and AIDS is largely confined to Sub-Saharan Africa with 22.5 million people currently suffering from the disease, resulting in approximately 1.3 million deaths annually. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) state that in some countries such as Swaziland, life expectancy is 32 years, and HIV and AIDS accounts for almost 60% percent of all deaths.  

According to UNAIDS, HIV and AIDS has a profound effect in Sub-Saharan Africa, influencing life expectancy, economy, society and education. Most of those impacted fall between the ages of 15 and 49, in the prime of their working life. Therefore, with a decrease in the working age population, the economy suffers. Those that do work often find themselves staying home to care for a sick family member. Meanwhile, insufficient education plays a role in the increase of HIV and AIDS.

Although not as prevalent as in Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV and AIDS still remains an important issue in most European States. Latest UNAIDS statistics reveal that the total number of HIV and AIDS related infections in Western and Central European remain below 0.2%. On the other hand, in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the number of people living with AIDS has risen by 250% from 2001 to 2010. The Russian Federation accounts for approximately 90% of the infected people in this region.

If the situation is not mitigated, the number of people infected worldwide can rise to 90 million by 2025, states UNAIDS. Only with proper information and access to medicines and modern medical facilities can this scenerio be prevented.

To see more about what AWEPA is doing on this, click here.