Standing together on World AIDS Day

Historical Context and Significance

The first World Aids Day was observed on December 1, 1988, under the theme: ‘Join the Worldwide Effort’. In South Africa, this day was first venerated in 1996 when the Department of Health organised a special event called the National World AIDS Day in Bloemfontein, Free State, and in Pretoria, Gauteng, according to South Africa History online.

According to the World Health Organisation, with human rights at the centre, and communities in the lead, the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Read more: Communities urged to make a difference this World Aids Day 

This years theme is: ‘Take the rights path: My health, my right!’. World AIDS Day 2024 emphasises the fact that the world can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected.

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for every community, as well as each individual, to honour the more than 32 million people who have died worldwide from AIDS-related illnesses. December 1 is a day for voices to unite by sharing experiences, remembering those lost, and standing together in the fight against HIV. The observance is also reserved as a day to bridge new and effective programmes and policies across different sectors around HIV/AIDS.

What is HIV and AIDS?

According to the National Institutes of Health, HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, which is the virus that causes HIV infection. The abbreviation ‘HIV’ can refer to the virus or to HIV infection. AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is regarded as one of the most advanced stages of HIV infection.

HIV attacks and destroys the infection-fighting CD4 cells of the immune systems. The loss of CD4 cells makes it difficult for the body to fight off infections, illnesses, and cancers. Without treatment, HIV can gradually destroy the immune system, causing health decline and the onset of AIDS. With treatment, the immune system can recover.

Significance behind the red ribbon

The red ribbon is the universal symbol of awareness and support for people living with HIV. It was first devised in 1991, when twelve artists met to discuss a new project for Visual AIDS, a New York HIV-awareness arts organisation.

It was there that they came up with what would become one of the most recognised symbols of the decade: The red ribbon, which is worn to signify awareness and support for people living with HIV. The artists wanted to create a visual expression of compassion for people living with HIV. They chose red for its boldness, as well as for its symbolic associations with passion, the heart, and love as explained by the Joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

Statistics on the HIV/AIDS

In a report by the South African Government, Simangazo Mokale said that in South Africa among the nearly 8 million people living with HIV, about 5.7 million are on treatment, leaving us with a gap of over 2 million people who should be on treatment, but are not. “Even with a range of treatment and prevention options there have been notable new infections, and it is troubling that statistics show that young people, between the ages of 15 to 24, are particularly vulnerable and at risk of contracting the virus.”

Also read: #WorldAidsDay: Shocking HIV/Aids stats

What treatments are available

South Africa has the largest antiretroviral (ARV) programme in the world, with more than 3.4 million HIV-infected individuals accessing ARV drugs. Based on the research by National Institutes of Health, the ARV programme involves taking a combination of HIV medicines, called an HIV treatment regimen, every day. It is recommended for everyone who has HIV. People with HIV should start taking ARV medicines as soon as possible. ARV drugs cannot cure HIV, but the medicines help people with HIV live longer, and it also reduces the risk of HIV transmission.

Debunking myths about HIV/AIDS

In a society where misinformation and disinformation are popular in the media landscape, research is important to come to the true conclusions surrounding HIV/AIDS. According to AIDS Foundation SA, they explored the vast myths that were spread around in a time where factual information was needed around HIV/AIDS, and they explored all possible research to provide the correct and factual information.

• Myth 1: I can get HIV by being around people who are HIV positive.
HIV is not spread through touch, tears, sweat, or saliva. You cannot catch HIV by breathing the same air as someone who is HIV-positive or touching a toilet seat or door knob handle after an HIV-positive person.
• Myth 2: I can get HIV from mosquitoes.
Because HIV is spread through blood, people have worried that biting or bloodsucking insects might spread HIV. Several studies, however, show no evidence to support this – even in areas with lots of mosquitoes and cases of HIV.
• Myth 3: I’m HIV-positive, my life is over.
Your life is not over! Yes, in the early years of the disease epidemic, the death rate from AIDS was extremely high, and one’s lifespan extremely short. But today, ARV drugs allow HIV-positive people, and even those with AIDS, to live much longer, normal, and productive lives.
• Myth 4: I could tell if my partner was HIV-positive.
You can be HIV-positive and not have any symptoms for years. The only way for you, or your partner, to know if you’re HIV-positive is to get tested.
• Myth 5: I can’t get HIV from oral sex.
It’s true that oral sex is less risky than some other types of sex, but you can get HIV by having oral sex with either a man or a woman who is HIV-positive. Always use a latex barrier during oral sex.

Importance of knowing your status

According to Gill Price, from SA Government communications, in a statement titled: HIV/AIDS prevention, he mentions that another important way to fight HIV is to know your status. He says that testing is critical in managing the disease and curbing its spread. “All sexually active South Africans are encouraged to test at least once a year.” Knowing your HIV status helps in making informed decisions on preventative measures, treatment, care, and support.

Once you know your status, you can immediately begin treatment, and if a person takes their treatment consistently, they will achieve virus suppression. Any person who tests positive can immediately begin ARV therapy which is widely available at public health care facilities nationwide. The therapy works by reducing the amount of virus in the blood to undetectable levels and ensuring that the virus cannot be passed on.

Mark Heywood, of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), stated that knowing your HIV status is very important, and that there is still a high level of HIV infection in South Africa, higher than most countries in the world. “There are still many being infected with HIV on a daily basis. If you do not take treatment, HIV will lead to serious illness and death, therefore people should test for it.”

Inequalities regarding HIV/AIDS

He further stated that inequality is a major cause for HIV infection, especially with women and girls as they are more vulnerable. “Income inequality means that people are less able to afford quality healthcare services. Poverty and inequality are a major factor and we will not overcome HIV entirely unless we address the question of inequality.”

Everyone has a right to know their status, however, one has to see HIV as a whole in the context of the South African constitution as stated by Heywood. “The South African constitution, which is our supreme law, says everyone has a right to healthcare services, and that must include healthcare services related to HIV. So, we have always framed HIV as a human rights issue. There is a human right to treatment, there is a human right to prevention, and a human right to be equal so as not to be at greater risk for HIV infection. All of these issues are what I believe to be fundamentally human rights questions.”

It was by taking up the issue of HIV as a human rights question that the TAC was able to win important victories around HIV in the early 2000’s, said Heywood.

Which non-profits are here to help you?

Right to Care is a leading healthcare organisation that began in response to the public healthcare emergency of HIV and AIDS in South Africa in 2001, and the pressing need to make medicine and care available to public sector HIV/AIDS patients. It was one of the first organizations in South Africa to make HIV treatment available to public patients. Its solid groundwork of service delivery, patient care, and innovation in South Africa quickly attracted attention from international funders and partners.

There are several non-profit organisations in South Africa that support HIV/AIDS, including:

• Desmond Tutu Health Foundation – Works to prevent and treat HIV, TB, and related infections through collaboration with the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the University of Cape Town,
• The Centre For HIV-AIDS Prevention Studies (CHAPS) – A non-profit that has experience in public health programmes and infectious diseases,
• ASHA Foundation – A charitable trust that helps people infected with HIV/AIDS, their families, and society,
• NACOSA – A network of civil society organizations that provides services to support HIV health services, and
• Positive Vibes – Shares HIV prevention information and helps people living with HIV get treatment and care.

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