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December 1st is World AIDS Day

December 1st is World AIDS Day.

Since 1988, World AIDS Day has been celebrated each year on December 1st to commemorate those we have lost to AIDS-related illnesses and to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. It is also an opportunity to remind government and the public that HIV still affects millions of people around the world.

Globally, approximately 32 million lives have been lost due to AIDS-related illnesses. Today, there are 37.9 million people living with HIV around the world, including an estimated 63,110 Canadians.

Each year, people around the world mark World AIDS Day by wearing a red ribbon, raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, and fundraising for AIDS Service Organizations.

This year, UNAIDS has announced the theme of World AIDS Day to be End Inequalities. End AIDS. End Pandemics.

In order to close the gaps and end the HIV epidemic in Canada, we need to increase national efforts to address the systemic inequalities that lead to different populations being disproportionately affected by HIV. 

This includes efforts to decolonize education and the healthcare system, address the housing crisis, advocate for universal access to lifesaving medications like HIV treatment and PrEP, and making mental health services more accessible/available to all. 

An initiative called Voices for World AIDS Day that started 15 years ago is held each year in Canada and is the largest HIV collaborative initiative in Canada marking World AIDS Day.

Together, we can raise our voices to remember those we have lost to AIDS, support those living with HIV, and challenge HIV/AIDS stigma. You can learn more about Voices for World AIDS Day and how you can join the conversation and show your support on World AIDS Day here: https://www.voicesforworldaidsday.ca/

What you can do on World AIDS Day:

On World AIDS Day, some things you can do to show your solidarity and support are:

  • Wear a red ribbon to commemorate those we have lost to AIDS-related illnesses and stand in solidarity with people living with HIV
  • Raise awareness about HIV/AIDS by having conversations with friends, family, and colleagues and by engaging on social media
  • Support a local AIDS Service Organization by making a donation or attending one of their events

AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador (ACNL) programs and services supported over 3,000 people provincially in the last year. Please consider supporting us, every dollar helps us continue to provide support and services to people who need them. Donate here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/1050

Films and documentaries to watch this World AIDS Day:

FREE: Watch “HIV Made Me Fabulous,” a short film about living and loving as a woman with HIV: https://www.lifeandlovewithhiv.ca/film/?doing_wp_cron=1638194152.9737811088562011718750

FREE: Watch “Ageing & HIV: A Story of Resiliency,” a documentary that chronicles the life, stories, and living/lived experience of a group of people living with HIV (PHAs) in southwestern Ontario, Canada: https://agingandhiv.com/view-film

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ACNL Blog

ACNL announces National HIV Testing Week Events

National HIV Testing Week (NHTW) is November 22-28, 2021!

This year’s theme is Testing is the key.” This is a week to promote and increase HIV testing and testing for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) more generally. The objectives of National HIV Testing Week are to encourage people to:

  • get tested for HIV and other STBBIs
  • become aware of their status
  • get connected to prevention or treatment and care
  • work to reduce the stigma associated with HIV

There’s currently no vaccine for HIV. According to 2018 national HIV estimates, 8,300 people in Canada were living with HIV and didn’t know it. No one is immune to HIV and the only way to know if you have it is to get tested. HIV testing is important for your health, and it gives you the information you need to help decide what HIV prevention methods you may want to use or connect to treatment and care a lot sooner. HIV treatment is effective and allows people to manage HIV and live full, healthy lives. People living with HIV who are on effective treatment and maintain an undetectable viral load do not pass HIV to their sex partner/s (see U=U, Undetectable = Untransmittable).

ACNL is excited to announce a list of events for NHTW 2021, and we have social media sharables coming soon for people to use during that week! Check back here or like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to share and stay up-to-date on the week of events. We hope you can join us, take part in NHTW 2021 in your own way, or use #TestingIsTheKey and our social media sharables once we release them for the world to see and have fun with!

National HIV Testing Week 2021 schedule-at-a-glance:

HIV Testing Week Social Media Sharables:

Anyone can access and share these social media graphics included in this public Google Drive folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/122uo8019AflwmoMN1ixG34C9bvOeMTOT?usp=sharing

All National HIV Testing Week Event Details:

Free HIV Self-Testing Kits & Sexual Health Resources Event:
Link to Facebook event page with more information:
https://fb.me/e/1V9Y5v4xT

HIV Testing Presentation & Community Discussion Event:
*Registration required
Link to Facebook event page with more information:
https://fb.me/e/19ClU5Csq

‘Get A Kit’ Drive (Free HIV self-testing kits) Event:
Link to Facebook event page with more information:
https://fb.me/e/5tdhDQZIC

*Register for the HIV Testing Presentation & Community Discussion here: https://bit.ly/3nMksFq

Thank you to CBRC (Community-Based Research Centre) with their Test Now: Community Edition pilot project and the Canadian AIDS Society for the generous amounts of HIV self-testing kits for National HIV Testing Week 2021. We couldn’t do this without your continued support!