ISLAMABAD: The United Nations' (UN) World AIDS Day will be observed on December 1 across the world to honor AIDS victims.
It also focuses on issues surrounding HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).
The 2014 theme for World AIDS Day is "Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation."
World AIDS Day is the focal point of the World AIDS Campaign, which is active all year round. On December 1, there are many health education campaigns that promote the day. Anti-discrimination activities are also launched on or around this date.
AIDS stands for "acquired immune deficiency syndrome" or "acquired immunodeficiency syndrome" and denotes a condition, which results from the damage done by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) to the immune system. The condition was first identified in 1981 and the name "AIDS" was first introduced on July 27, 1982.
HIV can only be transmitted between people through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the blood stream with a bodily fluid. Hence, there has been a lot of stigma around the spread of HIV and people living with HIV and AIDS.
It has been estimated that around 33 million people around the world have been infected with HIV and that around two million people die from AIDS related conditions each year.
On October 27, 1988, the UN General Assembly officially recognized that December 1 to be World AIDS Day.
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