Every 1st of December is World AIDS Day where the world comes together to fight AIDS, show support for people living with HIV, commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day. It also focuses on what has been achieved, what needs to be done and the way forward in ending AIDS.
Social and health inequalities as well as stigma are some of the issues the world needs to overcome to end AIDS and according to WHO:
“Key populations face much higher risks of HIV infection than the general population. Key populations include female and male sex workers and their clients, men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender people, people who use drugs, and people in prisons and detention settings. Key populations often face legal and social barriers that increase their vulnerability to HIV and impede their access to prevention, testing and treatment programmes”
This year’s theme for World AIDS Day is “End Inequalities. End AIDS. End Pandemics” and Social Media platforms like twitter are awash with hashtags #WorldAIDSDay and #StopHIV. The world has become more global and people have become more reliant on the internet to express their views, encourage and inspire. Since the advent of COVID-19 the internet has been a way of communication and the world is coming together today to encourage, inspire and share their thoughts regarding AIDS, striving to end stigma and encourage those at risk and living with it.
Zimbabwe is holding a national event to commemorate this day at the Chinhoyi University of Technology grounds with the Minister of Health and Child Care C.G.D.N Chiwenga set to officiate.
