rave: world AIDS day 2008
Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise - Lead - Empower - Deliver.
December 1 is World AIDS Day; a time to celebrate the many lives saved by HIV prevention and treatment programs. It also serves as a reminder that we all must do more—as individuals, communities, and as world citizens—to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS.
Around the world, 33 million people are living with HIV with nearly 7,500 new infections occurring each day. An estimated 3 million people are now receiving antiretroviral treatment in low and middle-income countries.
In the United States, CDC estimates that about 1.1 million people are living with HIV. These numbers will most likely increase over time, as antiretroviral drug treatments extend the lives of those with HIV and more people become HIV infected. As expected, as the number of people living with HIV grows, so does the opportunity for those with HIV to pass on the virus to others.
Protecting Health
CDC currently estimates that approximately one in five persons living with HIV in the United States is unaware of his or her infection and may be unknowingly transmitting the virus to others. Since anyone can be at risk for HIV, CDC recommends that adults and adolescents between the ages of 13 and 64 years of age be routinely screened for HIV infection in healthcare settings. Pregnant women in the U.S. should be screened for HIV infection as part of their routine prenatal testing.
Once tested, individuals can take steps to protect their health or, if infected, they can gain access to health-sustaining treatments and care, and help prevent the spread of the disease to others.
On this World AIDS Day 2008, we all need to commit to expanding the reach of effective prevention efforts to those at risk and those living with HIV in order to stop the further spread of HIV in the United States.
What Can You Do?
Wherever your work, or whatever you do, you can join CDC and its partners in supporting World AIDS Day. Your support will help end the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Individuals can:
- Get tested for HIV. To find a testing site center near you, visit hivtest.org or, on your cell phone, text your zip code to Know IT (566948).
- Participate in the Facing AIDS campaign. Take a picture of yourself wearing a red ribbon and add the photo to the "World AIDS Day 08" Flickr group*, your social network profiles, Twitter, blog, and/or Web site before December 1. Leave it up for at least a week.
- Stand up against stigma, racism, and other forms of discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.
Donate time and money to HIV/AIDS organizations.
Organizations are encouraged to:
- Promote World AIDS Day in your organization. Useful materials are available at hivtest.org
- Encourage employees to get involved in World AIDS Day.
- Educate staff about HIV/AIDS.
- Develop HIV/AIDS policies for the workplace.
World AIDS Day Resources:
Podcasts and Online Videos
- World AIDS Day 2008 Public Service Announcement ( 52 seconds)Produced by Discovery Health, the video features Dr. Julie Gerberding and Kenneth Cole
- Saving Lives Creating Hope ( 15:00 mins)Produced by Warner Brothers, this video provides an overview of the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
- HIV/AIDS Advances in Hope ( 8:11 mins)Produced in partnership with Discovery Health and amfAR, this video focuses on the history of HIV/AIDS from 1981 through 2008.
Web Sites
- Key Resources from CDC
- HIVtest.org
- AIDS.gov
- World AIDS Campaign
- World AIDS Day (Department of Health & Human Services)
More Information
- World AIDS Day Media Statement By Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
- CDC HIV Testing DatabaseLocate an HIV testing site near you
- CDC HIV/AIDSCDC's Web site for HIV/AIDS in the United States
- CDC Global HIV/AIDSCDC's Global AIDS Program
- CDC Business and Labor Responds to AIDSCDC's HIV/AIDS resource for businesses and labor organizations
- CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN)The US reference, referral, and distribution service for information on HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and tuberculosis (TB)
for more information about World AIDS Day 2008, please visit the official World AIDS Campaign website.
information courtesy of the CDC.gov website.
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