Tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 1, will be celebrated globally as World AIDS Day, a unique opportunity for people across the world to unite in the fight against AIDS and demonstrate support for the people infected with and affected by the deadly disease, as well as to commemorate those who have died.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which leads to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system. The term HIV/AIDS represents the entire range of diseases caused by the human immunodeficiency virus from early infection to late stage symptoms.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) GAP Report says that at the end of 2013, an estimated 35 million persons are living with HIV globally and 1.5 million persons have already died as a result of the virus.
The Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment will join the rest of the world tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 1, to celebrate World AIDS Day under the theme “GETTING TO ZERO. Zero new infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero Aids related deaths”. This theme reflects the tremendous progress that has been made globally in combating the spread of this disease, access to life saving anti-retroviral treatment and the decline in new infections and AIDS related deaths.
In this regard, the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment will host a Health Fair at the Leeward Bus Terminal in Kingstown, tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 1, beginning at 9 a.m. The fair will offer the public the opportunity to:
- Be more informed about HIV and AIDS
- Know their HIV status, through counseling and testing for HIV
- Be screened for Chronic Non Communicable Diseases, through blood sugar and blood pressure screening
- Be Informed about Sexual and Reproductive Health issues and Family Planning
- Be educated about care of the feet, through Foot Health Services