Today is World AIDS Day
Learn more, share info, support others
Over a million people in the US are living with HIV — about 1 in every 300 people.
Some info to consider, use and share
People at risk for HIV can:
- Take medication to reduce their chance of getting HIV. (See: Preventing HIV with PrEP, CDC.gov)
- Get tested to know their HIV status. Use GetTested (CDC.gov) to find a testing center near you.
People who test positive for HIV should begin treatment to reduce the amount of virus in their body. Often the virus can be suppressed to the point that it no longer shows up on a test result. It's then called an undetectable viral load. The CDC says: "Getting and keeping an undetectable viral load is the best way to stay healthy and protect others."
To care for yourself and others:
- Practice safer sex. (See: Safer Sex Practices, International Association of Providers of AIDS Care)
- Practice safer drug use. (See: Safer Drug Use, National Harm Reduction Coalition)
- Communicate your status to those who need to know it (i.e., those you have sex or share needles with).
- Reduce stigma around HIV so everyone can more easily communicate their HIV status when they need to, protect themselves, access healthcare, feel accepted, and be included.
The WHO asks everyone to affirm the fundamental right to healthcare, advocate for policies for HIV-related care, get involved in local health initiatives, learn about inequalities, and educate others.
Are you a community leader? The WHO's call to action for community leaders is to combat stigma, ensure that HIV services continue to exist, support healthcare workers, and reach out to vulnerable people to help them access care.
Post to social media
The World Health Organization has images and info you can share.
In English, the hashtag is #WorldAIDSDay2024.
In Spanish, the hashtag is #DíaMundialDeLaLuchaContraElVIH.
See my social media examples: I made a post in English on Instagram and a post in Spanish on Facebook.
Remember: Healthcare is in peril
Trump has named:
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of HHS
- Mehmet Oz as administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Marty Makary as FDA commissioner
- Dave Weldon as CDC director
- Janette Nesheiwat as U.S. surgeon general
This will affect everyone's healthcare. If the US neglects HIV prevention and treatment, the virus will ripple worldwide. So let's keep doing everything we can to take care of ourselves and each other.
