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World AIDS Day 2024: When someone is infected with HIV, they may experience fever, sore throat, headache, and swollen lymph nodes two to four weeks after exposure.
The theme of World AIDS Day 2024 is: Embracing the path of rights: My health, my right! (Image: Shutterstock)
World AIDS Day is dedicated to raising awareness about HIV prevention. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been commemorating it on December 1 for the last 33 years. On this day, many government organizations and NGOs organize special events around the world to educate people about this deadly disease, its treatment and other important aspects of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). People also gather to remember those who lost their lives in the past due to AIDS-related complications.
The world is yet to find a drug that can treat HIV infection at its core. While the disease remains incurable, precaution is now the only way to prevent it. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is highly contagious since HIV can be transmitted through the exchange of certain body fluids. That's why sharing needles, syringes, and other injection accessories with an AIDS patient can lead to infection.
History of World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day, established by WHO and the United Nations, was first celebrated in 1988 in response to the global impact of the HIV epidemic. In 1981, the first case of AIDS was reported in the United States, and two years later, researchers may have identified the virus that causes the disease.
World AIDS Day 2024 Theme
Like every year, the WHO has announced a special theme for World AIDS Day 2024. The organization aims to highlight how human rights can be key to achieving the “Sustainable Development Goals” goal of ending AIDS for 2030. This year, the theme of World AIDS Day is: “Taking the path of rights: My health, my right! “
“A rights-based approach is not just a strategy; It is a commitment to defend the dignity, health and autonomy of each individual, especially those with vulnerabilities and at greatest risk. We must courageously address the stigma and discrimination that constitute formidable barriers to accessing prevention, treatment and care,” WHO shared on its official website.
Early signs and symptoms of AIDS
It is often difficult to identify AIDS at an early stage as the initial symptoms vary from person to person. When someone is infected with HIV, they may experience fever, sore throat, headache, and swollen lymph nodes two to four weeks after exposure.
AIDS is considered the final stage of HIV infection when the patient's immune system is affected. They may suffer from persistent diarrhea, unusual weight loss, night sweats, difficulty breathing, and even serious conditions such as tuberculosis (TB), herpes, and pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP).
Importance of World AIDS Day
The occasion promotes AIDS prevention, advocates for those fighting HIV infection, raises awareness about its fatal effects and pays tribute to those who have lost their lives to this disease.
World AIDS Day Quotes
- Prevention is better than cure, especially when something has no cure.
- Hate the disease, not the sick.
- Spread knowledge to eliminate the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS.
- Discrimination can do more harm than the disease itself.
- Only proper education and awareness can eliminate AIDS.
