Sunday, December 1st marked the 25th annual commemoration of World AIDS Day to increase awareness of the AIDS epidemic.
According to the federal website aids.gov, more than 1.1 million people in the United States are living with the HIV infection and almost 1 in 5 people infected are unaware they have the disease. This means that in many cases people are not getting treated and may unknowingly pass the disease to others.
Although the disease has remained relatively stable in recent years, there is still a great need to raise awareness of this incurable epidemic. The best way to help combat the disease is to get tested yourself and help encourage others to do the same. When the disease first surfaced in the United States in the 1980’s an HIV diagnosis was an almost-certain death sentence. It has now become a manageable medical condition for many, but there is still a long way to go.
This month, ACHD encourages you to learn about the epidemic, join a campaign to fight the disease, use social media to spread awareness, and volunteer at local AIDS awareness events in your community. For more information on AIDS and how to get involved in putting an end to the disease, visit aids.gov.
