Landmarks in cities all across Slovakia will be lit up in red to support people living with HIV. The main focus of World AIDS Day, which is commemorated on December 1, is to inform the public about how the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) spreads, but also about protection against infection and support for prevention. This year, not only Bratislava but also Trnava, Nitra, Banská Bystrica, Prešov, and Košice are joining the initiative of the HIV/AIDS Slovakia civic association. The symbol of World AIDS Day is a red ribbon.
The WHO estimates that over 40 million people worldwide are living with the infection. Last year, 630,000 people died from diseases related to the infection. According to data from the Public Health Authority, approximately 1,700 people live with the infection in Slovakia. Thanks to antiretroviral treatment, the number of deaths has been reduced to dozens of cases in Slovakia.
The HIV virus causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a disease known as AIDS.
The concept of this world day originated in 1988 at the World Summit of Health Ministers on AIDS Prevention Programs. It was initiated by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Source: TASR
