Ceremonies marking World AIDS Day have begin around the globe.
Today globally more that 35 million people have HIV. 3.5 million of these people are under the age of 15.
In 2012 it is estimated that 2.3 million people were newly infected with the virus. Everyday 6,300 people are infected with HIV, that’s 262 people every hour.
Since it was first detected in 1981 it is estimated that 36 million people have died of AIDS related illnesses.
The theme of this years World AIDS Day is ‘Getting Towards Zero’, it’s been the theme since 2011 and will continue to be until 2015, signifying the massive challenge of eradicating the virus from society.
In Melbourne Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung Sun Suu Kyi has compared the battle against HIV/AIDS to the political struggles in her own country.
“To be discriminated against on any grounds – grounds of race, religion, belief, physical disability or physical disease – is just not acceptable in a civilised society,” Said Suu Kyi.
Ms Suu Kyi was in Melbourne for the announcement that Melbourne would host the 2014 20th international AIDS conference in 2014. Foreign Minister Julie Biship has said that the conference will bring around 18,000 delegates from around two hundred different counties. While Australia has been a leader in combating the virus over the last 20 years health advocates have used the day to warn that the community is becoming increasingly complacent about safe sex.
OIP Staff
