World AIDS Day
Mon, Nov 30 2009
Globally World AIDS Day is celebrated on Tuesday 1 December. The theme for this year is: "Take action. No discrimination.".
It focusses on the need to understand the needs of people with HIV and support them to live a life free of discrimination. This reflects the feedback from Australians affected by HIV, including some members of the bleeding disorders community, that in 2009 stigma and discrimination continue to be major issues that impact on their everyday lives.
World AIDS Day gives an opportunity to pause and acknowledge the people with bleeding disorders and their partners and families around the world who were affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the mid-1980s when HIV was found in some blood clotting treatment products.
In the early 1990s they also found their blood products had been affected by hepatitis C. Since then haemophilia treatment product safety has improved greatly and the risk of new infections from using human blood products is now thought to be extremely low.
In 1985 HIV testing and inactivation was introduced for Australian blood products. Children and previously untreated adults with haemophilia have been treated since the mid 1990s in Australia with recombinant treatment products which are genetically engineered and contain little or no human material.
In 2004 Australian governments agreed to fund sufficient supplies of these recombinant clotting factors for people with haemophilia of all ages. Haemophilia Foundation Australia held a Remembrance Service during the 15th Australian and New Zealand Haemophilia Conference in October to remember those in the bleeding disorders community who have died.
Throughout the world many people wear the HIV/AIDS Red Ribbon on World AIDS Day to declare support for HIV positive people and those who are affected by HIV/AIDS. It is a symbol to the memory of those who have died and support for those who live with HIV.
In 2009 our challenge is to put the symbol into action by finding ways we can strengthen our support to affected members and work towards a community free of discrimination.
For more information about World AIDS Day, go to www.worldaidsday.org.au, or contact your local HIV organisation or HFA.
