World AIDS Day 2023: Its Theme, History, Data, Significance, Symptoms & Prevention

Every year since 1988, December 1st has been observed as World AIDS Day. It is an important day to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS, remember those who have lost their lives due to AIDS related illness, and show support for those who are HIV positive. The day also provides an opportunity to promote improvements in care, treatment, and prevention. The disease known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS, weakens the body's defenses against infections and cancers.

World AIDS Day 2023: Theme

The 2023 World AIDS Day theme, "Let Communities Lead!" highlights the critical role that communities play in influencing the global HIV response. The emphasis of this theme is on how communities can work together to drive initiatives pertaining to HIV awareness, prevention, and healthcare. It demands that communities be given the authority to take the initiative in tackling the problems caused by HIV/AIDS.

World AIDS Day: History

World AIDS Day, first observed on December 1, 1988, was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness and support against the spread of HIV/AIDS. The day was initiated by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, public information officers for the AIDS Global Program, to address the devastating HIV/AIDS pandemic. With an estimated 90,000 to 150,000 individuals HIV-positive in 1988, the ides was approved by Director of the AIDS Global Program, Dr. Jonathan Mann. Research and medical partner developments during the 1990s have greatly enhanced the care provided to individuals living with HIV. World AIDS Day has been an essential forum for mobilization, education, and advocacy since its founding. It continues to play a crucial role in addressing stigma, promoting prevention, expanding access to treatment and care, and supporting those affected by HIV/AIDS worldwide.

World AID Day: Importance & Significance

World AIDS Day is a day to remember and work towards ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030. It encourages collective efforts through education, awareness, and compassion to create a world where HIV/AIDS is no longer a threat and everyone can live a healthy life free from discrimination and stigma. The day urges governments, communities, and individuals to prioritize HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and support services, addressing the root causes of inequalities and fostering inclusivity. It also serves as a platform to remember those who have died, support HIV positive individuals, and organize against the virus's spread. It also acknowledges the ongoing challenges and highlights the progress made in HIV prevention, treatment, and care.

Worldwide, World AIDS Day is extremely significant for the following reasons:

Awareness and Education: It provides a vital forum for educating people about HIV/AIDS, spreading factual information, and preventing the spread of the disease as well as testing, treatment options, and prevention measures. This information is essential for dispelling myths and lowering stigma.

Action and Advocacy: It motivates communities, governments, and organizations to push for more financing, assets, and laws that promote HIV prevention, treatment, and care. It also encourages people to act, get checked out, and get the medical care they require.

Worldwide Solidarity and Unity: AIDS Day fosters global solidarity and unity by uniting people around a shared cause. It highlights the necessity of group efforts, encouraging cohesion and solidarity in the fight against the global spread of HIV/AIDS.

Celebration and Remembering: World AIDS Day provides a chance to pay tribute to and remember those who have passed away from AIDS-related diseases. It's a time for introspection and compassion for those impacted by the illness and their families.

Support for Affected Person: The day provides assistance to those who are HIV/AIDS positive. In addition to assisting in the fight against discrimination and offering a supportive atmosphere for those impacted, it fosters empathy, understanding, and acceptance.

World AID Day: Statistic and Data

• The severity of the disease was highlighted by the 14.6 lakh new HIV cases and 6.5 lakh deaths that occurred globally in 2021. Approximately 3.84 crore people worldwide—mostly in low- and middle-income countries—are HIV positive as of 2021, with women and girls making up 54% of those affected.
• Important global statistics from UNAIDS in 2021 show that 75% of people had access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and that almost 85% of people knew their HIV status. In addition, 81% of HIV-positive pregnant women received antiretroviral therapy (ART) to shield their unborn child from HIV during pregnancy and childbirth.
• With 40.4 million deaths due to HIV (32.9–51.3 million) to date and the virus still spreading throughout all countries, HIV remains a major global public health concern. The rates of new infections have been observed to be increasing in several countries following years of decline.
• There is estimated to be 39.0 million HIV-positive people globally by the end of 2022 [33.1–45.7 million], with 25.6 million of those people living in the WHO African Region. HIV-related causes claimed the lives of 630 000 [480 000–880 000] people in 2022, out of 1.3 million [1.0–1.7 million] new cases of the virus.
• HIV infection does not have a treatment. But thanks to accessible, efficient HIV testing, diagnosis, treatment, and care—including for opportunistic infections—HIV infection has evolved into a chronic illness that can be managed, allowing those who are infected to live long, healthy lives.
• Global HIV strategies from UNAIDS, WHO, and the Global Fund are all in line with SDG target 3.3, which calls for putting an end to the HIV epidemic by 2030.

According to WHO, AIDS: Symptoms and indicators

The signs and symptoms of HIV differ according to the infection stage.

• In the initial months following infection, the disease spreads more readily, although many people do not become aware of their status until much later. People might not show any symptoms for several weeks after infection. Some people may have symptoms similar to the flu, such as a fever, headache, rash, or sore throat.
• The immune system becomes progressively weakened by the infection. Additional symptoms such as enlarged lymph nodes, weight loss, fever, diarrhea, and coughing may result from this.
• In the absence of treatment, individuals living with HIV infection may also experience the following serious conditions: severe bacterial infections, meningitis caused by cryptococcal meningitis, lymphomas, and Kaposi's sarcoma.

HIV causes other infections, including hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and mpox.

HIV/AIDS: prevention

"Prevention is better than cure," the following preventive actions can be made:

• Secure sexual relations
• Having just one sexual partner
• Everyday STD testing and treatment.
• Usage of prophylactic medications, such as those used before and after exposure.
• Refusing to engage in behaviors such as sharing needles
• HIV testing
• Prohibition to use drugs or any kind of similar thing