Action for World Aids Day in the UK
Published: 1 December 2009
Author: Rose Gamble
[ 2 ] Recommendations
The NAT is encouraging the public to join the campaign by writing to their MP
There are over 33.4 million people living with HIV/Aids across the globe. Africa has 14 million Aids orphans and 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.
It has been described as a global pandemic, yet the disease remains stigmatised or, at the very least, largely assumed to be a developing world "problem". Yet the number of people in the UK with HIV has trebled in the past 10 years, with 7,700 new HIV cases being diagnosed each year. 1st December is World AIDS Day, bringing people together to get talking about HIV- breaking the silence and the stigma that surrounds the disease.
A red ribbon has become the international National Aids Trust (NAT) symbol, accompanied by the words, "respect and protect". Respect those with HIV, find out the facts and the reality of HIV - not the myths - and protect yourself through safe sex and being tested for HIV.
This year, NAT is campaigning to protect the next generation, urging young gay men to get tested for HIV. The trust hope you will support the campaign by writing to your MP and asking him/her to sign an Early Day Motion (a bit like a petition).
Shout Loud
As 31% of people are diagnosed with HIV late, NAT is promoting Shout Loud (Sexual Health Out Loud), which tells you how to write to your primary health care trust and improve HIV diagnosis services in your community.
Take action
- Get up and join the World Aids Day campaign
- Learn more about the epidemic
- Can we do more? Join the discussion
- Find out how to get a ribbonto wear
“More people than ever before are living with HIV in the UK, but less people think they know someone with HIV,” Katherine Sladden, communications officer for NAT told Sideways News.
"World AIDS Day is really important to raise awareness about HIV and remind people that it is something that affects people here in the UK. While treatment for HIV has advanced a lot over the past decade, social attitudes haven’t. Many people with HIV still face prejudice. So World AIDS Day is the great opportunity to educate the public about HIV and break down the myths that still exist.”
SIDEWAYS News for fresh perspectives
