Communities Make the Difference- Celebrating WORLD AIDS DAY

Communities Make the Difference- Celebrating WORLD AIDS DAY


Considered to be one of the effective public health campaigns across the globe, World Aids Day is dedicated in raising awareness against AIDS- deadly disease. Spread of HIV Infection is highly responsible for this. World Health organization (WHO) makes an attempt on this day to aware the global population against the HIV infection, educate them on AIDS symptoms, prevention and even control.

In the 2019, World Aids Day celebrates the theme of “Communities make the difference”. This year, WHO takes an opportunity to identify the significant role that communities have undertaken and are going to undertake in response to AIDS at  various levels, i.e. local, national and international.

In the recent times when there is funding limitation and restricted space in civil society, there rise instability in advocacy attempts and sustainability of services. WHO focuses on the significance of the role of communities and initiates to propagate the thought that, communities need to contribute in leadership and advocacy, thereby focusing on people-centric and keeping public health of AIDS affected ones as concern.

In past few years, AIDS is found to kill more than 30 million people globally. In fact, an estimated data of about 36 million being affected with HIV is identified. Although recent initiatives have been taken by different Governments to fight against this deadly disease, yet there is a long way to go. No doubt that, an improved access to antiretroviral treatment has helped in reducing the death rate of HIV infected population. As compared to 2004, death rate is found to reduce about 56% worldwide. 

Moreover, as compared to 2010, new HIV infection is found to reduce by 16%. In accordance to the data of June 2019, out of about 36 million being affected with HIV, around 24.5 million people are identified to undertake antiretroviral therapy in contrast to about 7 million in 2010. However, there is a long way to go yet.  It is shocking to reveal that only about half of the children who suffer from HIV have the opportunity to get the life-saving treatment. More concentration needs to be given on the vulnerable population which is affected by HIV, i.e. children.

There is an urgent need of much more mobilization of communities so that, there is no obstacle while communities delivering services. The term “community” comprises not only HIV affected  people but also sex workers, networks of people who live with HIV affected people, people who inject drugs, peer educators, grass-roots activities, counselors, community health workers and door-to-door service providers. 

Government should also take this as a serious concern, thereby putting AIDS on political agenda and notifying that, even HIV affected people have human rights which are to be respected. Decision-makers as well as executors must be held responsible. Hence, keeping in mind, this year’s theme let us all request the governments to invest more in testing and improving the treatment data. Let us take the pledge this year, “No child should die of AIDS”.


Bibliography:
UNAIDS (2019). Communities Make the Difference. Retrieved from: https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/campaigns/WAD_2019
UNAIDS (2019). Global HIV & AIDS statistics-2019 fact sheet. Retrieved from: https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet

Comments