World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day

Every year since 1988, World AIDS Day is observed on December 1st. This is a designated day by organizations and individuals across the world to “bring attention to the HIV epidemic, endeavor to increase HIV awareness and knowledge, speak out against HIV stigma, and call for an increased response to move toward ending the HIV epidemic” (HIV.gov, 2020). Additionally, it is a day to support people living with HIV and to honor those who have lost their life (CDC, 2020).

The theme for 2020 is “Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact” (HIV.gov, 2020). It focuses on the “global commitment to deliver quality, people-centered HIV prevention and treatment services for impact” (CDC, 2020). It is especially important to acknowledge how the global pandemic has impacted this epidemic and those living with HIV. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ official plan is titled “Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America.” Their goal is “to reduce the number of new HIV infections in the United States by 75 percent within five years, and then by at least 90 percent within 10 years, for an estimated 250,000 total HIV infections averted” (HIV.org, 2020). Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in 1981, over 700,000 American lives have been lost to HIV and approximately 1.2 million Americans are currently living with HIV (HIV.org, 2020). 

Some of the factors related to HIV that increase risk and need to be addressed include “trends in injection drug use; HIV-related stigma; homophobia; lack of access to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment; and a lack of awareness that HIV remains a significant public health threat” (HIV.org, 2020). The HIV/AIDS epidemic disproportionately impacts the LGBTQ+ community. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are most affected by HIV in the U.S. and account for 69% (26,198) of the 37,968 new HIV diagnoses in 2018 in the U.S. (HIV.org, 2020). More specifically, Black/African American MSM accounted for 25% (9,444) of the 37,968 HIV diagnoses and 38% of diagnoses among all MSM (HIV.org, 2020). Additionally, transgender people have been experiencing increases in HIV diagnoses in the past six years (HIV.org, 2020).

 

Below we have listed some resources related to HIV/AIDS. Whether you want to get educated on HIV/AIDS, find out where to get tested, learn about effective interventions and treatment such as PrEP and where to access it, guides for clinicians, or everything you need to know about safe sex during COVID, we have you covered. 

Resources:

·       PrEP Locator - A national database for US PrEP providers: https://preplocator.org 

·       HIV Basics and Testing: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/hiv-testing/hiv-self-tests.html 

·       Let's Stop HIV Together: https://www.cdc.gov/stophivtogether/index.html 

·       AtlasPlus | NCHHSTP: https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/atlas/index.htm 

·       HIV Risk Reduction Tool: https://hivrisk.cdc.gov 

·       CDC Resources for Clinicians about HIV: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/clinicians/index.html 

 

Sources: 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). World AIDS day toolkit. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/worldaidsday/index.html 

HIV.gov. (2020). US statistics. Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics 

HIV.gov. (2020). World AIDS day. Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/events/awareness-days/world-aids-day

Lucy Dollinger AIDS, HIV, World AIDS Day