Since 1988, declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) and approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations, World AIDS Day is celebrated every December 1st, with the intention of joining forces to create a greater awareness of what is and what it means AIDS / HIV.
AIDS / HIV is currently considered one of the greatest pandemics of our century.
Socially, it differs with a characteristic red ribbon and is shared every December 1st as a sign of union and support against this disease. The intention in creating the bonds of solidarity was to raise awareness, sensitize and involve society with certain diseases.
According to UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Program on AIDS / HIV, in 2014 almost 37 million people worldwide had AIDS / HIV, causing more than 1.2 million deaths due to this disease. In Spain, this figure is estimated at more than 145,000 people.
Currently there are drugs, called antiretroviral drugs, which inhibit essential enzymes and help slow the progress of the disease and possible infections that may affect due to the lowering of defenses that our body suffers.
Despite this, and of the many investigations and studies underway, there is no cure as such.
It is estimated that only 21 of the 37 million affected have access to these medicines. According to UNIFEM, the United Nations Fund for Women, women account for 50% of the total number of people infected with AIDS / HIV. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa that number increases to 60% of the population.
AIDS / HIV is transmitted through 3 main ways: sexual, blood and perinatal, directly from the mother if the fetus is infected.
Medical experts recommend prevention of having safe sex with a condom, avoiding blood transfusions that are not previously analyzed and free of the virus, using new syringes and needles in each use and testing all pregnant women for HIV.
This year the campaign of the World Health Organization (WHO) focuses on #myrighttohealth (#derechoalasalud in Spanish) to provide information on the right to health and its importance in our daily lives, increasing visibility and ensuring that all affected by this virus have access to antiretroviral treatments.
In 2015, world leaders adhered to the objectives of sustainable development, one of them achieving universal health coverage by 2030. Under #EverybodyCounts (#cadapersonacuenta in Spanish), WHO will bet on universal access to health care services and medicines that are safe, effective and affordable for all, as well as high-quality affordable care and diagnosis, strengthening health systems.
All entities, both public and private, must be involved in order to have the opportunity to know the situation and join forces to promote advances in prevention, treatment and care for those affected in countries with high prevalence, in addition to the rest of affected countries around the world.
From Social & Care we join the support on World AIDS Day, contributing our little grain of sand, hoping that soon the investigations will advance and find a definitive cure to this pandemic.
This information is also available in: Spanish