Every year on 1st December World AIDS Day is being observed to raise awareness of the pandemic caused by the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
The theme of World Aids Day 2015 is: Getting to zero; end Aids by 2030.
Points to note
- World Health Organization (WHO) had designated 1st December as World AIDS Day in 1987.
- There are an estimated 10 lakh people currently living in India with HIV (PLHIV).
- Globally there are an estimated 34 million people who have the virus.
- According to a latest global report by UNAIDS, the number of people on life-saving antiretroviral drugs has doubled since 2010, while incidents of new cases have fallen by 35% since 2000.
Common reasons for getting infected with AIDS
- Unprotected sex with an infected person.
- During pregnancy from mother to child or even breastfeeding.
- Through transfusion of blood.
- Using of hypodermic needles of infected person to other person.