World AIDS Day: Five things you can do for people living with HIV

New Delhi: World AIDS Day is celebrated on the 1st December each year across the globe. The main objective of the day is to raise public awareness awareness about AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome).

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support to and solidarity with the millions of people living with HIV. It is also a day to commemorate people who have died from HIV infection.

But unfortunately, despite scientific advances made in HIV treatment, many people are diagnosed with the deadly disease and most of them do not know the facts about how to protect themselves and others, and stigma and discrimination remain a reality for them.

As the world marks World AIDS Day today, here are a few things you can do to show support for people living with the condition:

• Provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS – wearing a red ribbon is one simple way to do on this day.
• Get involved with or host an event for the awareness day.
• Talk with family, friends, and colleagues about HIV prevention and why it's important to get tested for HIV.
• Raise money to help people affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Encourage community leaders to increase their response to addressing HIV/AIDS.

Your actions shouldn't be limited to this day only, but it is important to keep the momentum going all year round. Also, keeping yourself up to date with the new developments in HIV, including research work, can be helpful.

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), there were approximately 36.7 million people living with HIV at the end of 2015. As a result of recent advances in access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-positive people now live longer and healthier lives.