The international days of concern are celebrated to highlight the importance of raising awareness and educating people on them. One such issue has been AIDS. The numerous myths surrounding the syndrome caused by the Human Immune Virus have led to patients being shunned from society and denied everyday interactions. Also, the lack of proper knowledge and care against its transmission has seen a subsequent rise in the number of cases worldwide, which today as per the WHO stands at 37 million.
Every year, World AIDS day is celebrated on 1st December to raise awareness about the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome caused by the Human Immune Virus that attacks the immune system and reduces its resistance to other diseases significantly, a situation which is often life-threatening.
The theme of the year 2021 is “End inequalities. End AIDS” and focuses on children and young people in its first two years. UNAIDS is looking forward to ending inequalities that drive AIDS and other inequalities in the world, without which it will be impossible to eradicate it. Many events have been taken up by governments and organizations worldwide to reach out to the people, educate and aware them. Special focus was also put to the effects of the pandemic over the two years and how it has further deteriorated the crisis as the health goals for the years have also been missed.
UNAIDS has been campaigning for World AIDS Day since 2004. Since 2004, World AIDS Campaign’s Global Steering Committee has been the one selecting the themes of the day, in line with the various actions and programs taken up by NGOs and government bodies to achieve the target of ending AIDS by 2030.
