December 1st is World Aids Day and this year the UNAIDS theme is “Getting it to Zero” – that is “getting the number of AIDS related deaths to zero, zero new HIV infections, and zero discrimination surrounding HIV positive and AIDS status.” Currently 34 million people in the world have HIV, but almost half of those people don’t even know they have it.
In 2011 2.5 million people were newly diagnosed with HIV and 1.7 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses. Worldwide there has been a significant decrease in new HIV infections, with incredible success in decreasing the numbers of babies born with HIV. We have come a long way but can’t forget that education, prevention and safe sex practices are key to getting us to ZERO! So this year in celebration of World AIDS day, what will you do to help us get to Zero? … Know your status, get tested!