World Aids Day is commemorated each year on 1 December and is an opportunity for every community to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV and remember those who have died.
This year’s theme is: Communities make the Difference. South Africa has been relentless in its mission to turn the HIV, Aids, and TB epidemics around and there are notable achievements to celebrate. “A review of our efforts in addressing the HIV and AIDS epidemic over the past 20 years, paints a mixed picture,” said the South African Government in a statement.
“There have been many scientific advances in HIV treatment and we now have a much better understanding of the virus. More people are receiving antiretroviral treatment, which means HIV infection rates are decreasing. There is also a scientific optimism around the benefits of treatment as prevention, and progress towards a cure and vaccine.”
The South African Government noted, however, that despite these advances, stigma and discrimination still persist for many people living with or affected by HIV and recalled that the former President Nelson Mandela words, “Many people suffering from Aids and not killed by the disease itself are killed by the stigma surrounding everybody who has HIV and Aids.”
World Aids Day is an opportunity for all South Africans to remind themselves that HIV is still a reality and that it is incumbent on all of us to continue fighting prejudice, stigma, and discrimination. The devastating effects include abandonment by spouse or family, social ostracism, job and property loss, school expulsion, denial of medical services, lack of care and support, and violence.
World Aids Day is important as it reminds the public that HIV has not gone away and that collectively, there is the need to increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education to maintain and achieve the aims and objectives of the country as set out in the National Strategic Plan on HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Tuberculosis 2012–2016.
“We each have a responsibility to treat those who are struggling with an HIV-positive diagnosis with compassion, those struggling with AIDS with care, and ourselves and our sexual partners with respect.”
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