Meanwhile, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé launched a global initiative in Libreville, Gabon, over the weekend that encourages youths to get tested for HIV, calling on young people worldwide to join the movement and get involved in ending the AIDS epidemic. We need to more than double the number of people on life-changing treatment to reach all 37 million of those living with HIV. Especially one day was dedicated for the people those who are suffering with this incurable disease AIDS.
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“This year, we mark World AIDS Day with new hope“.
As you might already know, today is World AIDS day – a day designated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, and mourning those who have died of the disease.
Pinellas County health officials said 41 new cases of HIV and AIDS were detected in October alone. Of the affected, about half of adolescents living with HIV are in just six countries: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, India, Mozambique and Tanzania.
This day gives people throughout the world a chance to show support to the millions of people living with the virus.
Not everybody is as well informed as Etong nor can they can brush off the stigma attached to taking an HIV test so easily. Georgia ranks second in the country for the diagnosis of new HIV infections, and Atlanta ranks fifth among similar metropolitan areas in the country for new diagnoses. Expanding HIV testing and treatment for those children and teens who are infected remains a big challenge.
Some ended up in the hostel in Waena village after being thrown out of home when their relatives found out they had HIV, as the virus still carries a strong stigma in deeply poor Papua, which has the highest prevalence of infections in Indonesia. An estimated 6,500 HIV-positive gay and bisexual men are unaware they have HIV, risking further rises if they are not diagnosed and treated.
Free HIV testing will be available there, as well.
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Elaborating on OST, Nadda said: “It is one of the components under the harm reduction strategy and is an evidence-based medical treatment for dependence on opioid drugs”.
