RAISING AWARENESS, ENDING STIGMA: WORLD AIDS DAY 2022

By: Althea Ren’ee Limpao

Every 1st of December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day, and this is to encourage everyone to be globally united in eliminating the discrepancies and inequalities that hinder HIV Testing, prevention, and access to HIV Care. This day also serves as an opportunity for public and private partners to spread awareness about the status of HIV/AIDS prevention, monumentalize those who have died, and celebrate small or big victories such as improving access to treatment and prevention services.

The first World AIDS Day was founded in 1988 and is also the first-ever international day for global health. Since then, the United Nations agencies, governments, and other civil societies have joined together to amplify the call for better access and treatment for HIV. Many awareness-raising activities occur around the globe; people wear a red ribbon which serves as a symbol of awareness and a call for support to people living with HIV, and the people who tested positive for HIV/AIDS are given a chance to voice out the issues that they are experiencing