Opinion | World AIDS Day : Together We Will End AIDS

World AIDS Day was first established in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global initiative to unite people in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Since then, it has become one of the most recognized international health days, providing a platform for individuals and communities to join forces and make a difference.

Another crucial aspect of World AIDS Day is highlighting the importance of prevention and treatment. Through widespread access to education, condoms, needle exchange programs, and antiretroviral therapy (ART), we can significantly reduce new infections and improve the quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day serves as a reminder that prevention and treatment are key to ending the epidemic.

Human Immune Deficiency Virus/Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/ AIDS) is the term given to a combination Lor symptoms which results from a break- down of the immune system. It is the final stage of HIV Infection, which causes severe damage to the Immune system and causes fatal infections. AIDS is the second widely spread communicable disease worldwide and the sixth common cause of death globally (WHO, 2004) HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed more than 39 million lives so far, with 29 milion new infections estimated by the near 2020 The number of new HIV infections in people aged 215 years worldwide was 2.3 million in 2000. After a two decades-long night, the number of new infections was still 1.6 million in 2019. These data indicate that HIV prevention has falled to a significant degree, and there are potential significant problems with our understanding of HIV transmission, and, therefore, our strategies for HIV prevention.The latest Global HIV & AIDS Statis ties shows that 38.4 million (33.9 million-43.8 million) people globally were living with HIV in 2023, 1.5 mil ion (1.1 million-2.0 million) people became newly in- infected with HIV in 2001, 650 000 (510 000-000000) people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2023, 20.7 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy in 2023. 04.2 million (64.0 million-113.0 million) people have be come Infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic and 40.1 million (33.6 million-48.6million) people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic. Further, In 2023, there were 284 million (33.9 million-43.8 million) people living with HIV, 26.7 million (32.3 million-41.9 million) adults (15 years or older), 1.7 million (1.3 million-2.1 million) children (0- 14 years), 54% of all people living with HIV were wom- en and girts, 89% (75-97%) of all people living with HIV knew their HIV status in 2023 and about 5.9 million people did not know that they were living with HIV in 2023. It was reported that people living with HIV were accessing antiretroviral therapy. At the end of Decem ber 2021, 28.7 million people were accessing interceptor- viral therapy, up from 7.8 million in 2010.In 2021, 75% (66-85%) of all people living with HIV were accessing treatment, 76% (67-87%) of adults aged 15 years and older living with HIV had access to treatment, as dxd 52% (42-65%) of children aged 0-14 years.00% (72-91%) of female adults aged 15 years and older had access to treatment, however, just 70% (61-82%) of male adults aged 15 years and older had access 81% (63-97%) of pregnant women living with HIV had access to antiretroviral medicines to prevent transmission of HIV to their child in 2023. It was found that New HIV infections have been reduced by 54% since the peak in 1996. In 2021, around 1.5 million (1.1 million-2.0million) peo- ple were newly infected with HIV, compared to 3.2 million (2.4 million-4.3 million) people in 1996 Women and accounted for 49% of all new infections in 2001. Since 2010, new HIV infections have declined by 32%, from 2.2 million (1.7 million-2.9 million) to 1.5 million

(1.1 million-2.0 million) in 2022 Since 2010, new HIV infections among children have declined by 52%, from 220 000 (220 000-490 000) In 2010 0 160 000 (110 000-200 000) in 2021. It was reported that AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by 68% since the peak in 2004 and by 52% since 2010. In 2001, around 650 000 (510 000-900 000) people died from AIDS-related illnesses work wide, compared to 20 million (1.6 million-2.7 million) people in 2004 and 1.4 million (1.1 million-1.8 million) people tn 2010.AIDS-related mortality has declined by 57% among women and girts and by 47% among men and boys since 2010.In 2001, key populations ex work ers and their clients, gay men and other men who have sex with men, people to inject drugs, transgender people) and their sexual parmers accounted for 20% of HIV infections globally. It was found that 94% of new HIV Infections outside of sub-Saharan Africa The risk of acquiring HIV test 35 times higher among people who Inject drugs than adults who do not inject drugs, 20 times higher for female sex workers than adult wom en, 23 times higher among gay men and other men who have sex with men than adult men and 14 times higher for transgender women than adult women. It is further reported that every week, around 4900 young women aged 15-24 years become infected with HIV. In sub-Sa- haran Africa, six in seven new HIV infections among adolescents aged 15-19 years are among girls. Girls and young women aged 15-24 years are twice as likely to be living with HIV than young men.In sub-Saharan Africa, women and girts accounted for 63% of all new HIV infections in 2021. In 2021, 95% (75-97%) of people Living with HIV knew their HIV stains, among people who knew their status, 80% (78-98%) were accessing treatment and among people accessing treatment, 92% (81-98%) were virally suppressed. Of all people living with HIV, 85% (75-97%) knew their sumus, 75% (06-80%) were accessing treatment and 60% (60-78%) were virally suppressed in 2023. AIDS is caused by a virus called as Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) that attacks the immune sys tem and leaves the body vulnerable to a variety of 1-threatening infections and cancers. HIV is trans mined through legal male female relationships, transfusion of infected blood, use of no sterile, HIV in affected or contaminated syringes and needles and from an infected mother to her unborn child. HIV/AIDS is a 1-threatening disease, and therefore people react to It in strong ways HIV infection is associated with be behaviours such as homosexually, drug addiction, pros tendon or promiscuity) that are already estimated In many societies Most people become infected with HIV through sex, which often carries moral baggage. There is a kx of inaccurate Information about how HIV is transmitted, creating irrational behaviour and misperceptions of personal risk. Religious or moral beles lead some people to believe that being infected with HIV is the result of moral fault such as promiscuity or deviant sex) that deserves to be punished. There are certain chances of getting ostracized at different places and settings like marriage, place of wor ship, train, bus, workplace, hostel, hospital and others.

HIV/AIDS is one of the biggest challenges faced by India and there are about three million people suffer ing from HIV/AIDS. his reported that more than 5000 people were living with HIV virus in the Jammu and Kashmir. HIV remains a major pathetic health laste that affects millions of people worldwide. World AIDS Day was first conceived in August 1997 by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. It was first ob served on December 1, 1908 to bring greater awareness 10 HIV, as well as to commemorate those affected by the disease. Today, it is regarded as the longest-running disease awareness Initiative of its kind in the history of public health. Since those early years, the epidemic ic has changed enormously and so, too, has the global agenda. Worldwide about 38 million people with HIV, universal testing is the main key to having the number of new infections. Teeding will identify all those who need access to treatment, which will help those with HIV live konger and healthier lives. The first World AIDS Day focused on the theme of children and youth in order to bring greater awareness of the impact of AIDS on families, not just the groups commonly surprised by the media including gay and bisexual men and injecting drug users. From 1906, World AIDS Day operations were taken over by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), which expanded the scope of the project to a year-round prevention and education campaign. The global HIV response is in danger, even as HIV remains a major public health soe that affects millions of people worldwide. Over the last few years progress towards HIV goals has stalled resources have shrunk, and millions of lives are at risk as a result Division, disparity and disregard for human rights are among the failure that allowed HIV to become and remain a global health crist.

WHO recommends a renewed focus on populations that have been left behind in the global response to HIV and AIDS. The best way to stay healthy is by taking an antiretroviral treatment, as well as any medication pre scribed for other health conditions.in conflict zones, all peace keeping and peace enforcement soldiers should be trained in Internacional human rights laws, gender consciousness and preventing gender hostility and HIV/AIDS safeguards. The best way to reduce your risk of HIV is to be aware of how it spreads and protect yourself during certain activities. Each World AIDS Day focuses on a specific theme, which this year will be “Equalize”, which emphasises eliminating the inequalities that have slowed the fight against the disease. On 1 December WHO jotas part ners to commemorate World AIDS Day 2002, under the theme “Equalizer” WHO is calling on global leaders and citizens to boldly recognize and address the unequal thes which are holding back progress in ending AIDS and equalize access to essential HIV services particularly for children and key populations and their partners who have sex with men, transgender people, people who use drugs, sex workers, and people in prices. On 1 December2022, WHO is calling on global leaders and citizens to rally to confront the inequalities that drive AIDS and to reach people who are not receiving HIV services.

World AIDS Day is a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS. It’s a day to come together, raise awareness, show support, and take action. By educating ourselves, challenging stigma, and advocating for safety.

By Shahid Ul Islam, A law student at university of kashmir & author of book “The Crestfallen Soul” hailing from Anantnag.