Acknowledging World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day has been celebrated worldwide on Dec. 1 since 1988. World AIDS Day falls right between AIDS Awareness Week, which runs in the last week of November, and Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week, which is held in the first week of December. This year’s theme is “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response”; the goal for World AIDS Day is to accelerate the response to HIV/AIDS, and work towards an end to the epidemic as a public health threat by 2030. World AIDS Day is also used as a day to spread information on HIV/AIDS, end the stigma surrounding AIDS, and remember the loss of loved ones who have passed away from AIDS.

What is AIDS? According to the Government of Canada Website, AIDS, which is short for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a worsened stage of HIV, which is short for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV attacks the body’s immune system. People who are diagnosed with HIV are not all bound to get AIDS. With the right treatment, HIV can be managed, and people can live long, healthy lives even if they have HIV. When HIV is left untreated, the problems start to arise. HIV targets the body’s immune system, which is the body system used to fight infections. Without a strong, healthy immune system, the human body is susceptible and unable to fight severe infections. This is why HIV leads to AIDS.

In the 1980s, when AIDS was first discovered, there was a huge epidemic, as it was first presented as a mysterious and terrifying disease with no cure. Through the years of research and studies, scientists and doctors were able to identify that AIDS was the final stage of HIV. With that knowledge, treatments have emerged for people with HIV to receive and prevent AIDS. The epidemic is still not over; it is just managed with the help of treatments. According to the public health services section of the Canadian government website, an estimated 65,270 Canadians were living with HIV in 2022.

Originally, the symbol for AIDS awareness was a red ribbon. However, in 1991, the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC) created the symbol of a red-coloured scarf, to illustrate your support, awareness and solidarity for those living with AIDS.

The most effective way to fight AIDS stigma is to be educated. One myth and stigma surrounding AIDS is that only homosexual people, specifically males, can contract AIDS. This is entirely false, as AIDS can also be contracted through shared contact with blood. This is often seen in people using the same needles or syringes as someone else. HIV can also be transmitted in utero, from an HIV-infected mother to an unborn child. In the early years of discovery of HIV, it was noted that it mostly affected homosexual men, but after years of research and knowledge, it is wrong to say only homosexual people can contract and spread AIDS.

Today is World AIDS Day, and although Brandon is not doing much, I still encourage you to spend today finding a way to be mindful. It could be seeing if you have any red in your closet, educating yourself on the topic of AIDS, or even just taking a minute to remember the lives lost from this terrible disease. AIDS continues to be an issue in developing countries, and even in developed countries like Canada. However, with spreading awareness and support, together we can hopefully find a cure for all.

» Abby Wronowski is a Grade 11 student at École secondaire Neelin High School.