Monday, 27 November 2023
World AIDS Day is marked on 1 December each year and has been an annual event since 1988.
People around the world unite to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
World AIDS Day remains as relevant today as it’s always been, reminding people and governments that HIV has not gone away.
There is still a critical need for increased funding for the AIDS response, to increase awareness of the impact of HIV on people’s lives, to end stigma and discrimination and to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that lives and reproduces in the human body. If untreated, over time HIV destroys part of the immune system, rendering it ineffective.
When the immune system is sufficiently depleted it can no longer overcome infections and illnesses. When a person contracts two HIV illnesses simultaneously they are given a Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) diagnosis.
Find out more about HIV
Thanks to advances in treatment, today people living with HIV in many countries lead normal lives and have a similar level of life expectancy to the general population, and one of the major goals of people working in this sector is to reach a point where there are no new transmissions of the virus.
The current treatments for HIV are so effective that once a person has been taking medication for a few months the virus is undetectable in their body, and it is no longer possible for them to transmit the virus to other people. This concept is know as U=U: undetectable equals untransmissible.
Additionally people who are at a greater risk of being exposed to HIV can now access Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) treatment. By taking a daily pill they remove the chance that they can acquire the virus. Since this medication was added to the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) the number of new cases in key populations has been dropping.
In recent years the introduction of rapid testing has increased the capacity for health providers to test for the virus and help those who need treatment.
In 2022 the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney revealed that there were 552 new HIV diagnosis across Australia the previous year. A decline of 48% since 2012, and a decline of 38% in comparison to 2019's figures.
While the number of cases have been rapidly dropping each year in Australia, researchers noted that the Covid-19 pandemic would have had an effect on the figures.
While people often think of HIV as something that primarily effects gay men, and other men who have sex with men, in Western Australia there is often an almost equal number of cases among the heterosexual population.
People living with HIV often face stigma and discrimination and fear revealing their status to even close family members, close friends and colleagues.
World AIDS Day is a time to important reminder to encourage everyone to treat those living with HIV with respect and promote great inclusivity to work towards a WA community which is free from stigma and discrimination.
The theme for World AIDS Day this year is "Boldly Positive" promoting openness around HIV and AIDS discussion without shame and stigma, while developing bold and effective prevention strategies free from discrimination.
This year, WAAC (WA AIDS Council) will take over Forrest Place for their annual Morning Breakfast in addition to hosting community stalls where you can stop by, find out more about regional LGBTIQA+ organizations, take part in giveaways and activities, and watch some short documentaries about HIV and the LGBTIQA+ experience.
All events are free for anyone who would like to come.
Getting a test for HIV is something people who are sexually active should include in their regular health checkup. Any doctor can help you get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
You can get a sexual health test at the medical centres on the Mount Lawley and Joondalup campuses. There is also the M-Clinic a specialised clinic for men which is located in Leederville.
The WA AIDS Council runs a wide range of program to support people living with HIV, educate the wider community and reduce the rate of new transmissions.
Many of these programs are run by volunteers, including peer counselling, public speaking in schools, and safe sex promotion campaigns. If you're looking to add some volunteering experience to your resume, the WA AIDS Council is a great organisation to spend some time with and they provide first rate training and guidance.