World AIDS Day
This day of awareness promotes health information about AIDS and is a reflection for those living with the disease and in remembrance of those who died from it.
This day of awareness promotes health information about AIDS and is a reflection for those living with the disease and in remembrance of those who died from it.
Nathaniel Glanzman
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World AIDS Day was the first international day for global health. Organized by the World Health Organization, 140 nations participated in the first celebration in 1988. The first World AIDS Day featured condom distribution, concerts and messages from world leaders, including Ronald Reagan.
In recent years, the United Nations has given each World AIDS Day a theme. The 2022 theme is Equalize and focuses on the inequalities delaying progress with the AIDS epidemic. In 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services announced their intention to try to reduce HIV transmission in the United States by 90% by 2030. Currently, more than 1.1 million Americans live with HIV.
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, can develop into AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, if left untreated. New innovations in HIV medication, including antiretroviral therapy, allow those with HIV to live long, healthy lives and prevent the transmission of HIV to others.
Traditions
Each year on World AIDS Day in the United States, the president issues a proclamation as an opportunity to shed light on the progress and challenges of the HIV epidemic.
One of the biggest traditions is wearing the red ribbon. The red ribbon was the first awareness ribbon. Created in 1991 by Visual AIDS, an artist organization focused on AIDS activism, the red ribbon has become synonymous with AIDS activism. The ribbon symbolizes support for those with AIDS and for their caregivers.
As a day of awareness, education is a large focus. The Centers for Disease Control encourages everyone to get tested for HIV and they have a large resource library you can use to educate yourself on the disease. Hospitals, nonprofits and educational institutions use this day to run health fairs that promote HIV and AIDS testing. There is also a large fundraising push on World AIDS Day. People and organizations raise money for a variety of HIV and AIDS-focused charities.
World AIDS Day is a day of commemoration as well as education. To honor those lost to the disease, candlelight vigils are often held. At the first World AIDS Day, commemorative quilts, echoing the work of activist Cleve Jones, were displayed in six continents. (In 1985, Jones conceived of the memorial quilt. In 1987, during the National March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights, “The Quilt” was displayed at the National Mall.) Memorial quilt displays frequently factor into World AIDS Day.