Montgomery County, PA

World AIDS Day was first established in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO). World AIDS Day http://www.worldaidscampaign.org is held December 1st of every year to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS, acknowledge those who are currently living with HIV/AIDS and to increase awareness and prevention. This year’s World AIDS Day theme is “Getting to Zero”: “Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination, and Zero AIDS-Related Deaths.”

 

Over 7,000 people worldwide are newly infected with HIV everyday. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 million Americans are living with HIV, 20% of those infected were not aware and 50,000 are infected each year. In 2009, 1.8 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses worldwide.

 

What can you do to become a “Zero”? Learn your A, B, C, Ds.

A-   Abstinence. Abstaining is the only way to be sure that you are a complete, “Zero.”

B-   Be aware. Get yourself tested on a regular basis. The sooner you are tested and receive treatment you will decrease the risk for AIDS-related illnesses and possibly death.

C-   Condoms. Using condoms can reduce the risk of HIV transmission.

D-   Don’t discriminate because HIV does not. Many people from different walks of life are infected with HIV.

 

Test your HIV knowledge take quiz here: Quiz (avert.org/hiv-aids-quiz.htm)

 

 

The Montgomery County Health Department offers free and confidential HIV tests. For the complete schedule, please check our clinic schedule - http://health.montcopa.org/health/cwp/view,A,3,Q,34399.asp