World AIDS Day is marked internationally on 1 December.
This is a time to raise awareness in the wider community about the issues surrounding HIV and AIDS. It is a day to demonstrate support for people living with HIV and to commemorate those who have died. Wearing a red ribbon is a way that you can show solidarity and raise awareness of HIV.
This is also a time when we remember the members of the bleeding disorder community who were affected by HIV when in the mid-1980s HIV was transmitted through some batches of clotting factor treatment product. The legacy of this tragic episode lives on in our community, especially for the people who lost partners, family members, children, patients, colleagues and friends.
Some people with bleeding disorders continue to live with the challenges of HIV; and we acknowledge the individuals who inspire us by their positive attitude, resilience and determination to build a better future.
In 2015 the World AIDS Day global campaign continues the theme of:
Getting to zero:
- Zero new HIV infections
- Zero discrimination
- Zero AIDS related deaths
What can you do?
- Be aware that HIV still exists in the community
- Take action to prevent transmission of HIV by promoting safe sex practices
- Support and understand people in your community living with or affected by HIV
- And uphold the right of people living with HIV to participate in the community free from stigma and discrimination.
For more information about World AIDS Day, contact your local HIV organisation or visit www.worldaidsday.org.au