1 December is recognised internationally as World AIDS Day. It celebrates progress made in the battle against the epidemic — and brings into focus remaining challenges. The aim of World AIDS Day and AIDS Awareness Week is to raise awareness in the community about HIV/AIDS issues, including the need for support and understanding for people living with HIV/AIDS, and the need for the development of education and prevention initiatives.
In order for HIV to be effectively tackled on an international level, efforts need to be made to:
*End the discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS.
*Educate people in safer sex and drug use, using appropriate media.
*Provide condoms freely to people in the developing world.
*Provide financial and medical assistance so that people with HIV and AIDS can be treated.
Started in 1988, World AIDS Day is not just about raising money, but also about raising awareness, education and fighting prejudice. World AIDS Day is also important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.
The theme for World AIDS Day
Each year there is a particular theme chosen for World AIDS Day, and for the last fourteen years the themes have been as follows:
2004 Women & AIDS
2003 Stigma & Discrimination
2002 Stigma & Discrimination
2001 I care. Do you?
2000 AIDS : Men make a difference
1999 Listen, Learn, Live: World AIDS Campaign with Children & Young People
1998 Force For Change: World AIDS Campaign With Young People
1997 Children Living in a World with AIDS
1996 One World, One Hope
The Red Ribbon
The Red Ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round and particularly around world AIDS day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind others of the need for their support and commitment.
The red ribbon started as a "grass roots" effort, and as a result there is no official red ribbon, and many people make their own. It’s easily done – just use some ordinary red ribbon and a safety pin!
How can we support world AIDS Day
*By raising awareness of HIV and AIDS in your area.
*By wearing a red ribbon, and asking others to do the same.
*Protect yourself - this is the first and best way to stop the spread of HIV.
*If you are worried - get tested.
At school or work
*Have a dressing up, down or fancy dress day
*Put up some posters - get people talking
*Sell red ribbons
*Organise a creative writing/poster campaign
*Set up a debate or a quiz – there’re lots of ideas for topics on our site
*Cook an international meal or have a cake sale
*Arrange a sponsored three-legged race or balloon release
*Get your friends, family, colleagues or pupils to express their feelings and expand their knowledge about AIDS
Put up a display
Putting up a display, whether at work, school or in a public library or shopping centre or mall, is an excellent way of raising awareness of HIV and creating discussion.
World AIDS Day rally
A World AIDS Day Rally from Tank Bund to Necklace Road at Hyderabad that will include youth, NSS volunteers, NCC cadets, nursing students, Red Cross Society, government employees etc. The rally will be followed by a meeting with top Politicians of the State, student essay competitions, and a display of banners, posters, pamphlets etc.
Date: 1 December 2004, 9.30 AM
Place: Tank Bund, Hyderabad, A.P.India
More info: somasekhar_pasala@rediffmail.com
Links: http://www.unaids.org , http://www.avert.org , http://www.worldaidsday.org
