Every year on Dec. 1, as a means to raise awareness about, commemorate the lives lost to and celebrate survivors’ of HIV/ AIDS, the World Health Health Organization (WHO) hosts “World AIDS Day,” and this year’s theme is “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress.”
“Ending AIDS requires that we prioritize and reach everyone who is living with, at risk for or affected by HIV, including men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, sex workers, and people in prisons and other closed settings, as well as their partners,” according to WHO.
HIV/AIDS treatment has come a long way since the first reported cases in the United States in 1981, with medical breakthroughs transforming the disease from a death sentence to a manageable chronic condition.
According to HIV.gov: “There were 39.9 million people across the globe with HIV in 2023. Of these, 38.6 million were adults (>15 years old), and 1.4 million were children (<15 years old). In addition, 53% were women and girls.”
The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1995 dramatically reduced AIDS-related deaths and the transmission of the virus. HAART is a combination of two or more antiretroviral drugs that are typically prescribed as the initial treatment for people with HIV.
Today, global awareness, addressing stigma, and the development of life-saving medications have made landmark strides in the fight to end HIV/AIDS.
Local organizations like Whitman-Walker Foundation, a leader and stalworth in HIV/AIDS health care services, are hosting local events to combat the diagnoses. Whitman-Walker’s annual “Walk to End HIV” event on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Anacostia Park near the Skate Pavilion, celebrates progress, raises awareness and garners support for those impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Dwight Venson, community engagement manager at Whitman-Walker, said the annual event has already raised roughly 86% of its funding goal.
“Communities East of the River continue to face disproportionately high rates of HIV, and bringing this event to Anacostia Park underscores our commitment to addressing these disparities,” Venson told The Informer. “By walking together in this space, we’re amplifying the voices of those most impacted and demonstrating the importance of equitable access to care and resources.”