December 1st of every year is World AIDS Day, and it is an opportunity for people the world over to unite against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was held twenty-seven years ago for the first time in 1988. Since the beginning of the epidemic, almost 78 million people have been infected with the HIV virus, and about 39 million people have died from it. The disease claims an estimated 2 million lives each year, of which about 270,000 are children.

Today, scientific advancements have been made for HIV treatment, and being diagnosed is no longer a death sentence; there are an estimated 34 million people globally living with HIV. There is still a certain stigma towards people living with the disease, and World AIDS Day is important because it reminds the public that HIV has not gone away – there is a crucial need to increase awareness, raise money, improve education, and raise money.

Approaching HIV with fear and trepidation won’t help us, and it won’t make it go away. Arming the world with knowledge, making them aware – that is one of the most powerful weapons in our arsenal. Talking about the disease and donating to research organizations are the best things we can do, and will help us bring those numbers down to zero. And that’s the ideal situation, isn’t it?
You can donate in the USA at www.aidsresearch.org/donate, and in Canada at www.cdnaids.ca/makedonationtocas