Everyone should know their HIV status
December 1st is celebrated as World AIDS Day to raise awareness among everyone about the pandemic and to mourn the ones who have died as a result of the disease. People and organisations show solidarity with HIV-positive people and the people living with AIDS by wearing a red ribbon.
2018 marks the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day. WHO advocacy and communication for World AIDS Day 2018 aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Urge people to know their HIV status through testing, and to access HIV prevention, treatment and care services.
- Urge policy-makers to promote a “health for all” agenda for HIV and related health services, such as tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis and non-communicable diseases.
The theme for World AIDS Day 2018 is ‘Know Your Status’ which encourages everyone to know their HIV status. According to the World Health Organisation, 1 million people die every year from HIV because they don’t know they have HIV and aren’t on treatment, or start their treatment too when it’s too late.
The prevalence of AIDS in Bangladesh is comparatively low (less than 0.1%). According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef), as per current trends, around 80 adolescents will die of AIDS globally every day by 2030.
