World AIDS Day, marked annually on Dec. 1, is a global day of recognition for people living with HIV/AIDS — a time to show them support as well as honor people who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
According to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), there are an estimated 37.7 million people living with HIV, but only 27.4 million have access to treatment. In 2020, 1.5 million people became newly infected with HIV, and 680,000 people died of HIV-related causes.
There have been many scientific advances made in HIV treatment, testing and understanding of the disease. Despite this, many people do not know the facts about how to protect themselves and others, and stigma and discrimination remain a reality for many people living with the condition.
Further, there are many barriers that exist around the world to detection and treating HIV and AIDS, like the global gag rule that bars U.S. global health funding to foreign organizations that advocate for or provide access to abortion information, referrals, or services. The leading HIV research organization, amfAR, has documented that the global gag rule significantly disrupted HIV services. Additionally, COVID-19 lockdowns and other restrictions disrupted HIV testing and in many countries led to steep drops in diagnoses and referrals to HIV treatment.
At Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, we provide services such as PEP and PrEP, and HIV testing. We also provide comprehensive and inclusive sex education so our patients can be informed about how to best stay safe and healthy.
World AIDS Day is important because it reminds everyone that HIV has not gone away and that we need to work to increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education. We stand in solidarity to put an end to the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS, and will continue to advocate for all people to have access to vital sexual and reproductive care.
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