World AIDS Day
People gather around lit candles in the shape of a ribbon during a HIV/AIDS awareness campaign ahead of World Aids Day, in Kathmandu, Nepal November 30, 2016. Reuters/Navesh Chitrakar

The World AIDS Day 2016 report of UNICEF acknowledges the efforts that have been put to end HIV. Unfortunately, it is estimated that HIV infections will increase among children and adolescents, especially girls. Different strategies of prevention are proposed to deal with this problem.

AIDS is considered to be one of the most life threatening diseases. On Dec. 1, 1988, World AIDS Day was held for the very first time. HIV was recognised as the cause of the disease. It has been almost 30 years since then but the leading minds of the world have failed to come up with a preventive vaccine for the disease.

The theme of World AIDS Day 2016 is called Hands up for #HIVprevention. The main aim of the campaign is to adopt new strategies for the prevention of the disease. According to the UNAIDS reports, young women are three times more at risk to get infected with HIV. Women suffering from HIV are the ones who have greater chances of developing cervical cancer. Several countries are adopting Fast Track 2014 which is an initiative to end AIDS by 2030.

Michel Sidibé, the executive director of UNAIDS, says, “Prevention should be central to our effort in the future but prevention should not be working against treatment.”

Recently, UNICEF has released a report on the event of World AIDS Day. It states that the number of adolescents infected with HIV is likely to increase in the forthcoming years. The number of victims is expected to rise to almost 400,000 by 2030 from 250,000 in 2015. Several strategies are put forward like improvements in data collection, innovative local solutions and prevention of gender discrimination.

Preventive measures are also being adopted by different companies. Durex has launched a safe sex emoji called “Umbrella with Raindrops” to promote safe sex. News18 reports that #CondomEmoji will help people to communicate about safe sex over smartphones.

The UNICEF and UNAIDS reports, campaigns and preventive measures on World AIDS Day 2016 will encourage the world to fight against AIDS in the future.

RELATED STORIES