The United Nations (UN’s) World Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Day is annually observed across the globe on 1st December to raise awareness about Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV)/ AIDS and foster unity in the fight against the pandemic.
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) spearheaded the World AIDS Day campaigns from its establishment until 2004.
Theme:
The theme of World AIDS Day 2024 is “Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!”
- The theme highlights the need for action to protect everyone’s health by upholding their rights, with leaders being urged to follow the path of rights protection.
- The World AIDS Campaign’s Global Steering Committee began choosing a theme for World AIDS Day by working with civil society, organizations, and government agencies involved in the fight against AIDS.
Significance:
i.By prioritizing human rights and allowing communities to lead, we can achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
ii.It serves as a reminder that we stand together in the battle against AIDS and pays tribute to those who have fought the disease
Symbol – Red Ribbon:
i.A red ribbon symbolizes support and solidarity with individuals living with HIV and serves as a tribute to those who have lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses.
ii.According to the founders of the Red Ribbon Project, red was chosen for its association with blood and representation of passion.
Background:
i.In August 1987, World AIDS Day was proposed by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
ii.The first-ever World AIDS Day was observed on 1st December 1988.
Observance in India -Since 1992, the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India (GoI), has been commemorating World AIDS Day every year on December 1.
What is HIV/AIDS?
i.HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system by attacking cells that help the body fight infections, making individuals more prone to other illnesses and diseases.
- It spreads through contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV
ii.If left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS. HIV can be treated with Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).
UNAIDS Report 2024:
The report The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads presents new data and case studies showing that the actions and policies adopted by global leaders will determine the future of millions of lives and the success in overcoming the world’s deadliest pandemic.
Key Facts:
i.On October 8, 2024, countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia region adopted a Ministerial Declaration on Adolescent-Responsive Health Systems, demonstrating a strong commitment to creating inclusive health systems that address the needs of young people.
ii.India HIV Estimations 2023 report highlights that over 2.5 million people are living with HIV in India. New HIV cases in India have dropped by 44% since 2010, surpassing the global reduction rate of 39%, and deaths from AIDS have decreased by 79%.
iii.81% of people with AIDS identified, 88% receiving ART, and 97% of those treated having their viral load suppressed.
2024 Events:
WHO and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) discussed the challenges and opportunities for the global HIV response, including issues like shrinking civic space, health priorities, climate change, displacement, emergencies, and political shifts.
Events in India:
Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, MoH&FW inaugurated the World AIDS Day 2024 at Devi Ahila Vishwavidyalaya Auditorium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh (MP), in the presence of Dr Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister (CM) of MP.
Initiatives:
i.Sankalak 6th Edition: “Sankalak,” the evidence-driven flagship report of the National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Control Programme, provides a detailed overview of the status and progress of the National AIDS and STD response for the year 2023-2024.
ii.The India HIV Estimates 2023 – Technical Report provides updated data on HIV prevalence, incidence, AIDS-related deaths, and progress in eliminating mother-to-child transmission, based on globally recommended methods and software.
iii.The Coffee Table Book (Intensified Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Campaign) showcases NACO’s nationwide campaign, launched on 12th August 2024, to raise awareness about HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), promote safe practices, reduce stigma, and increase demand for HIV/STI services.
iv.The Prevention Progress Update 2023-24 (Fourth Edition) -Reviews the progress of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) Phase V, focusing on High-Risk Groups (HRGs) and setting a target to reduce new HIV infections and AIDS deaths by 80% by 2025-26.
v.Research Compendium Volume II Shares key findings from 65 state studies in 2022-23, providing insights to scientists, policymakers, and communities on HIV-related research.
vi.The ‘Mission Sampark’ initiative was launched in 2017 to reconnect and support People Living with HIV (PLHIV) who had stopped their treatment.
About the UNAIDS:
UNAIDS was officially established in 1994 through a UN resolution and became operational in 1996.
Executive Director – Winnie Byanyima
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
