World Aids Day

World AIDS Day is an international Health day that is held on 1 December each year. It is a global initiative that seeks to raise awareness on issues pertinent to the prevention of HIV infection. The day is an opportunity for organisations within both the public and private domains to collaborate and disseminate information prevention, care and treatment particularly in high prevalence countries such as South Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the region worst-affected by HIV and AIDS. HIV/AIDS in South Africa is a prominent health concern; South Africa has the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS compared to any other country in the world with 5.6 million people living with HIV, and 270,000 HIV related deaths recorded in 2011.

Why is the South African HIV/AIDS prevalence so high?
Many factors contribute to the spread of HIV. These include: poverty; inequality and social instability; high levels of sexually transmitted infections; the low status of women; sexual violence; high mobility (particularly migrant labour); limited and uneven access to quality medical care; and a history of poor leadership in the response to the epidemic.

The aim of World AIDS Day is to encourage citizens of all nations to be aware of HIV, to take action to reduce the transmission of HIV by promoting safe sex practices and to ensure that people living with HIV can participate fully in the life of the community, free from stigma and discrimination. World AIDS Day 2014 is an opportunity for all across the world to harness the power of social change to put people first and close the access gap.

Closing the gap
Too many people lack access to comprehensive HIV treatment and prevention services. Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is possible, but only by closing the gap between people who have access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services and people who are being left behind.

Closing the gap means empowering and enabling all people, everywhere, to access the services they need.

• By closing the HIV testing gap, the 19 million people worldwide who are unaware of their HIV-positive status can begin to get support. By closing the treatment gap, all 35 million people living with HIV will have access to life-saving medicine.
• By closing the gap in access to medicines for children, all children living with HIV will be able to access treatment, not just the 24% who have access today. 
• By closing the access gap, all people can be included as part of the solution.

Closing the gap means that ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is possible.

What you can do to help close the gap

• Close the HIV testing gap-take an HIV test and learn your status.
• Close the location gap-find out where the gaps are in your city or country.
• Close the education gap-get involved with and support a local AIDS organization.
• Close the funding gap-donate to an AIDS organisation.

Show your support this World Aids Day by wearing your red ribbon and raising awareness with the social media hashtags #WAD2014 and #CloseTheGap.

Sources
HIV Education: http://www.aids.org.za/hiv-education-session-for-companies/
HIV/AIDS in South Africa: http://www.aids.org.za/hivaids-in-south-africa/
World Aids Day 1 December 2014: Close the gap: http://www.unaids.org/en/WAD2014closethegap