Walk to commemorate World AIDS Day today
Today is World AIDS Day. Each year, on December 1, the world commemorates World AIDS Day.
People around the world unite to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. Commemorating the World AIDS day, the National STD/AIDS Control Programme (STD/AIDSCP) will hold a walk, starting at 8.30 a.m. from Hyde Park today (1).
This march will start tomorrow at 8 am from Hyde Park, Colombo and it will pass through Punchi Borella, Maradana and return to Hyde Park. The World AIDS Day march will be attended by senior officials of the Health Ministry, the three Armed Forces, prison officials, officials representing the Colombo Municipal Council and experts from the National STD and AIDS Control Programme, the Health Ministry said.
The WHO, together with communities and partners commemorate World AIDS Day 2023, under the theme “Let communities lead” on December 1. Communities living with and affected by, HIV, networks of people from key populations and youth leaders have been, and continue to be, essential for progress in the HIV response. They provide essential prevention, testing and treatment support services, build trust, generate innovative solutions, promote health, monitor the implementation of policies and programmes, and hold providers accountable. The world can end AIDS with communities leading the way. That is why the theme for World AIDS Day this year is ‘Let communities lead’, and much more than a celebration of the achievements of communities, it is a call to action to enable and support communities in their leadership roles.World Health Organization sources said that the HIV remains a major global public health issue, having claimed 40.4 million lives so far with ongoing transmission in all countries globally; with some countries reporting increasing trends in new infections when previously on the decline.There were an estimated 39.0 million people living with HIV at the end of 2022, two thirds of whom 25.6 million are in the WHO African Region. In 2022, 630 000 people died from HIV-related causes and 1.3 million people acquired HIV. There is no cure for HIV infection. However, with access to effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care, including for opportunistic infections, HIV infection has become a manageable chronic health condition, enabling people living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives.WHO, the Global Fund and UNAIDS all have global HIV strategies that are aligned with the SDG target 3.3 of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.
By 2025, 95 percent of all people living with HIV (PLHIV) should have a diagnosis, 95 percent of those should be taking lifesaving antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 95 percent of PLHIV on treatment should achieve a suppressed viral load for the benefit of the person’s health and for reducing onward HIV transmission.
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