National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about HIV Prevention

National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day is annually observed on April 10. This day seeks to raise awareness, spark dialogue, and shine a light on the work being done to reduce HIV and AIDS among youth. According to the most recent HIV statistics, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among young people is greater than many people believe. In order to effectively combat the AIDS epidemic, it is crucial to promote young people’s voices and peer-to-peer education as potent tools. This is not solely the responsibility of the government; we all have a part to perform in raising awareness and saving lives.

The background of National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day

HIV is believed to have originated in the 1930s from a virus unique to chimpanzees in West Africa. It was initially transmitted to humans via blood transfusions. Throughout the decades, the virus spread throughout Africa, Asia, and other regions. Prior to the 1980s, it was unknown how many individuals were HIV-positive or developed AIDS. The problem was that HIV had not been identified, and its transmission was not accompanied by obvious symptoms.

In the early 1980s, physicians began receiving reports of rare forms of pneumonia, cancer, and other diseases; it was then that the world became aware of HIV and AIDS. Approximately 38 million individuals are currently living with HIV around the globe. In addition, tens of millions of people have perished of AIDS-related causes since the outbreak began.

In 1996, Dr. Mark Wainberg contributed to the development of a substance called 3TC that is used to treat HIV. This combination medication therapy resulted in an immediate reduction of 60% to 80% in AIDS-related mortality and hospitalisation rates. The difficulty was that few patients could afford it. UNAIDS did not negotiate with five pharmaceutical companies to reduce the cost of HIV medication for developing nations until the year 2000. The truth is that this malady continues to be a problem. National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day is a day dedicated to educating the public about the impact of HIV and AIDS on youth. The objective is to draw attention to HIV prevention, treatment, and care campaigns for young people in the United States.

5 BASICS FACTS OF HIV PREVENTION

Get tested frequently, and if you have a companion, discuss getting tested before engaging in sexual activity.

Using condoms during sexual relations is the only method to prevent HIV transmission.

Or, if you do, use your needles, syringes, and other drug equipment.

If you have HIV, you should not intentionally transmit it to others.

Be aware of this disease and all pertinent prevention information.

NATIONAL YOUTH HIV AND AIDS AWARENESS DAY DATES