Monday, December 3, 2012

WAD Commemorated in the Philippines


by Jersey  M.
Philippine Contributor

Since 1998 World AIDS Day has been held annually on December 1 to raise awareness of the Spread of HIV/AIDS and its victims. The 2012 theme is -- and will be until 2015 -- "Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination. Zero AIDS Related Deaths.”  Across the globe , people unite to show their support for people living with HIV and honour those who have died. Currently according to the World Health Organization, 37 million people are living with HIV.

In observance of World AIDS Day on December 1. The United Nations Program on HIV-AIDS released the 2012 Global AIDS Epidemic Report, which showed that the Philippines is one of the nine countries whose number of new HIV infections is increasing by more than 25 percent.

The other countries are Bangladesh, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova and Sri Lanka.

The Philippines is also among the countries which have recorded very low percentage change in the number of people dying from AIDS-related causes from 2005 to 2011. And also one in three countries in the Asia-Pacific region that is now categorized as having an expanding epidemic.

The United Nations in the Philippines reaffirms its support to work with government, Civil society and other development partners as the Philippines seeks to develop new approaches and innovative models that will break the cycle of HIV transmission and pave the way for a new AIDS-free generation towards “Getting to Zero in 2015 UNAIDS Philippines Country Coordinator Teresita Marie Bagasao said.

Here in the Philippines, Filipinos  release into the air paper lanterns and lighted candles in the shaped into an AIDS symbol to mark World AIDS DAY at the Heroes Shrine at Quezon City. 
"WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
NO PLHIV is alone with his or her struggle with HIV!"

-Pozziepinoy-


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Sources:
BaltimoreSun.com
Businessmirror.com
Cbs.com