Tomorrow, December 1st will mark World AIDS Day 2009. Each year, this day is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV. Find out more interesting details here.
December 1st of each year, recognizes those who suffer from HIV and AIDS and often memorials are held for those who have lost their lives due to this pandemic. Government and health officials also provide information and hold conferences relating to the disease in an effort to raise awareness.
Hospitals, clinics and organizations offer free and inexpensive testing for HIV/AIDS. An outreach coordinator, Vanessa McDowell, for Keystone Health in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania says that their confidential and free testing is considered a special event that happens every December 1st.
“It’s a designated day for all agencies to test and raise awareness for HIV,” adding that, “We want to bring awareness to the community, though it’s not like we don’t do this every day.”
The Johnson County Health Department of Olathe, Kansas provides HIV tests that allows an individual to test for the disease and get the results back in 15 minutes without having to return days later for the outcome. A spokesperson for the JCHD said, “One of our overall goals is to help stop the spread of HIV by educating the public.”
It is said that there are about 33 million people worldwide who are HIV positive, however, only 4 million people are being treated. Reportedly, UNAIDS and WHO provided statistics indicating that the all-around widespread of the disease may be lessening but in other utmost affected countries, the influence is unchanged.
You may want to check your state’s calendar for free and confidential testing for HIV/AIDS for World AIDS Day 2009.
You can get more information at the official website for this special event at www.worldaidsday.org
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