World Aids Day was started in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is observed every year on the 1st of December to commemorate the day when AIDS was first recognized by the world as a public health problem. The event is celebrated all over the world and has become a day of solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. On this day, people are urged to join in a “Day of Global Actionâ€.
World Aids Day History
In 1988, the United Nations proclaimed December 1 as the first World AIDS Day. The idea for a day of global action was to recognize that all people were affected by HIV/AIDS, whether they were living with it or not. The original name for this day was International Aids Day, but in 1997 it became known as World Aids Day and has become a day of solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
Where was the first World Aids Day celebrated?
The first World Aids Day was celebrated in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Spain on December 1, 1988. On that day, more than 3 million people participated in marches and demonstrations in over 30 countries. In the United States, nearly 40,000 people attended the People Living with HIV/AIDS March in Washington D.C.
It was also at this event that the first world aids day resolution was adopted by all of the governments present at that time and included a commitment to improving the prevention of HIV/AIDS strategies and care programs for those living with HIV/AIDS.
World Aids Day objectives
In a letter from the President, the world health organization (WHO) said: “Aids is one of the world’s most significant public health problems, causing great suffering and misery for people all over the globe. The Aids pandemic has reached epidemic proportions in many parts of the world.”
The organization also called on governments to work together to prevent and control the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The following is a list of objectives set by the World Health Organization in 1987.
- Â To increase the knowledge and understanding of the facts and causes of AIDS among people at all levels of society.
- To improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care, and support of people with AIDS.
How to celebrate World Aids Day
On the occasion of World Aids Day, there are a number of issues related to HIV/AIDS which are being addressed by various agencies. They include prevention and awareness, care and treatment, prevention of new infections, and support for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families and communities.
We have listed out some of them that can be tackled by you in your daily life:
Prevention: The best way to control the spread of any disease is by avoiding it in the first place. In case you are not able to avoid such risk factors as you can take precautions in order to reduce the risk or transmission rate. Here is a list of things that should be avoided while traveling abroad.
- Do not share toothbrushes with anyone else if you travel to a country where diseases like Hepatitis B & C are prevalent.
- Avoid sharing needles with anyone else or using public transport or public toilets even if they look clean or dry at first sight. It will not harm your body but will harm other people who might be infected.
- Avoid having sex with a person who has an STI or is HIV positive.
People in the community are aware of these risks and do not share toothbrushes, or needles and also do not have sex with someone who is infected. In case you have to travel abroad, try to follow all the preventive measures listed above.
You can use condoms or birth control pills if you are sexually active and can take steps to avoid getting infected by them too. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, make sure that your partner uses a condom when they engage in sexual activity with you as well as other people.