World AIDS Day is celebrated around the world on December 1 each year to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. On this day, India organizes nationwide awareness campaigns and community awareness programs. The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare organizes events to unite the masses in the fight against this deadly disease.
What is HIV/AIDS?
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) weakens a person’s immune system by attacking helper T-cells. Meanwhile, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by having too few immune cells to fight other infections and diseases, the Mayo Clinic said.
The theme of World AIDS Day
This year’s theme is “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.”
History of World AIDS Day
The World Health Organization (WHO) first marked the day in 1988 and now serves as a platform for governments, communities and individuals to raise awareness and take action to control its spread. The December 1 date, one of WHO’s eleven official global public health campaigns, was recommended by former San Francisco television journalist Bunn.
The National AIDS Control Program (NACP) has evolved in five phases over the past three decades. The final phase (2021-2026) aims to support United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, which focuses from basic awareness to comprehensive prevention, testing, treatment and sustainability. The HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017 has been a landmark measure in this regard, as a strong policy framework seeks significant advances in the fight against HIV-related diseases.
Phase-V aims to build on past successes and address the ongoing challenges posed by the chronic condition caused by fatal HIV infection. With an expenditure of Rs. 15,471.94 crore, aims to end the epidemic as a threat to public health by 2030 through comprehensive risk utilization of prevention, testing and treatment services, a PIB press release said.
Causes of HIV infection
HIV can be sexually transmitted and can also be spread by sharing needles or syringes with an infected person. A woman infected with HIV can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding if the HIV infection is not treated. Although there is no cure for this disease, but drugs can control the infection and prevent it from getting worse. Antiviral treatment is given to people infected with HIV to reduce the death rate from AIDS.
Symptoms of HIV infection
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Rash
- Sore throat and painful mouth ulcers
- Swollen lymph nodes, also called nodes, mainly in the neck
- Diarrhea
- Losing weight
- Cough
- Night sweats
In a post on X, NACO said: “HIV and STI testing is available free of charge at your nearest government hospital.”
