World AIDS Day 2022: Date, theme and significance
World AIDS Day 2022: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS has led to lakhs of deaths globally. On World AIDS day, which is observed every year on December 1, the United Nations and counties worldwide try to raise awareness about the illness and educate people on how to prevent it.
World AIDS Day: Remembering those who passed away from the disease
It is celebrated globally to encourage people to come together in the battle against HIV, to support those who are living with HIV, and to remember those who have passed away from the disease.
World AIDS Day 2022: History and date
In 1987, the idea of World AIDS Day was introduced. This day is observed to promote communication about AIDS and HIV amongst local and state governments, international organizations, and private citizens. James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officials at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, came up with it. It has been coordinated and promoted by UNAIDS (the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) since 1996. Then, on November 30, 2017, President Donald Trump proclaimed December 1 to be World AIDS Day.
World AIDS Day: Casualties
As per facts on the WHO website, in 2021, 6,50,000 (5,10,000-8,60,000) people died from HIV-related causes and 1.5 million (1.1–2.0 million) people acquired HIV.
World AIDS Day 2022: Theme
The theme of World AIDS Day this year is 'Equalize'. The theme urges global leaders and citizens to boldly recognize and address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS and equalize access to essential HIV services, the WHO website said.
World AIDS Day: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV
In 2019, the Maldives and Sri Lanka were certified to have eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis, which Thailand achieved in 2016 - the first country in Asia to do so.
World AIDS Day: 3.8 million people are living under HIV in the South-East Asia region
On World AIDS Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reiterated its commitment to achieving a region and world in which AIDS is no longer a public health threat, leaving no individual, community or population behind.In a WHO press release, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Poonam Khetrapal Singh said that in the South-East Asia region alone, 3.8 million people are living under HIV accounting for 10% of the global burden.
