World AIDS day- today

Current mood: geeky

25 million in 25 years

AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized in 1981, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed approximately 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2005 (an average of 8,500 per day), of which more than half a million (570,000) were children.

UNAIDS and the WHO estimate that the total number of people living with the HIV has reached its highest level. There is an estimated 40.3 million (estimated range between 36.7 and 45.3 million) people now living with HIV. Moreover, almost 5 million people have been estimated to have been infected with HIV in 2005 alone.
The epidemic is not homogeneous within regions with some countries more afflicted than others. Even at the country level there are wide variations in infection levels between different areas. The number of people living with HIV continues to rise in most parts of the world, despite strenuous prevention strategies. Sub-Saharan Africa remains by far the worst-affected region, with 23.8 million to 28.9 million people living with HIV at the end of 2005, 1 million more than in 2003. Just under two thirds (64%) of all people living with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa, as are more than three quarters (77%) of all women living with HIV. South & South East Asia are second most affected with 15%.


World AIDS Day and W.A.C.

World AIDS Day was originally organised by UNAIDS, who chose the theme after consultation with other organisations. However, in 2005 UNAIDS handed over responsibility for World AIDS Day to an independent organisation known as The World AIDS Campaign (WAC).

The WAC's slogan for their work is "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise", which is an appeal to governments, policy makers and regional health authorities to ensure that they meet the many targets that have been set in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This campaign will run until 2010, with a related theme chosen for World AIDS Day each year.

This year's theme, "accountability", is designed to inspire citizens across the globe to hold their political leaders accountable for the promises they have made on AIDS. Targets such as the All by 2010 pledge made by world leaders last year, and the Millennium Development Goal to halt and reverse the spread of AIDS by 2015, are in serious danger of being sidelined or ignored, and much more needs to be done to ensure that these critical promises are kept. By supporting a broad movement of civil society organisations in their campaigning around this theme, the World AIDS Campaign hope to develop a sense of joint identity and common purpose and ensure that more people are made aware of the AIDS epidemic this year than ever before.




Read More:

* 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic by UNAIDS - Summary by GreenFacts
* AIDS epidemic update 2005 (PDF) by UNAIDS
* Specific country data from UNAIDS
* http://www.worldvision.caThe Origin Of AIDS
* The World AIDS Campaign
* AVERT.org's World AIDS Day page
* WorldAIDSDay.org
* Positive Voices: Videos for World AIDS Day (free registration required)

Keep A Child Alive.org