World AIDS Day was first established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988 as way to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and to honor those affected by the global epidemic. It is a time to honor and remember those we have lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and advocate for those living with and at risk of contracting HIV.
According to HIV.gov, this year’s World AIDS Day theme is “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress.” This theme is centered around the U.S. government’s dedication to harnessing the significant progress that has been made through global and domestic HIV programs over the last four-plus decades, working to ensure that no communities are left behind. As we look ahead to the future, it is more important than ever to commit ourselves to ending HIV infections, deaths, and stigma.
Over the last four decades, scientific advancements have transformed HIV from a once-deadly disease to a manageable chronic condition for many. Despite that, HIV continues to disproportionately impact intersectional and marginalized parts of the LGBTQIA+ and broader community, including BIPOC individuals, people who use injection drugs, sex workers, and those experiencing homelessness. Unfortunately, these people are all too often met with bigotry from the institutions that are supposed to be offering comfort.
HIV stigma grows from negative attitudes and beliefs about people living with HIV. Combatting that stigma requires comprehensive sexual health curriculums, honest conversations with our friends and neighbors, and efforts to foster community support of people living with HIV. The CDC’s Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign has some great resources to help with this work.
Fenway Health’s Dr. Ken Mayer diagnosed the first HIV case in New England and ever since then, Fenway has led in HIV care, prevention, research and advocacy. We are New England’s largest provider of outpatient HIV related care—regardless of a person’s background or their ability to pay.
Together, we need to commit to action:
- Get Tested: Knowing your HIV status is the first step in prevention and treatment. Free or low-cost testing is available in most communities.
- Support Equity: Advocate for policies that ensure equal access to HIV prevention, care, and treatment for all, regardless of geography, income, or identity.
- Fight Stigma: Challenge stereotypes and misinformation about HIV. Educate yourself and others about the realities of living with the virus today.
- Protect yourself and your partners from HIV infection: In addition to traditional safer sex practices, we have tools today like PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) that can help us dramatically reduce HIV infections. Injectable PrEP promises to further transform the landscape around this epidemic. Fenway is happy to connect you or someone you love with PEP or PrEP, just give us a call at 617,927.6000.
- Donate or Volunteer: Support organizations like Fenway Health working on the frontlines of HIV prevention and care, whether globally or in your local community.
In the United States, many people living with HIV have access to care and services that let them live happy and healthy lives. Unfortunately, that is not universally true, even here, and when we look at the world outside of our borders, the reality is very often much starker. You can find information and resources about the National HIV/AIDS Strategy on HIV.gov and learn more about international efforts to combat HIV/AIDS on unaids.org.
This World AIDS Day, as we put on our red ribbons and light our candles, let us reflect on those that we have lost and celebrate the resilience of those still with us. We also need to acknowledge the political realities we all face moving forward and rededicate ourselves to fighting the good fight. Together we can ensure that everyone, everywhere, can look forward to a future free of new HIV infections, filled with innovative new approaches to HIV prevention, and where steady progress points us towards a cure for this virus which persists as a public health issue of global importance.