:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-sfr.s3.amazonaws.com/public/TJ6VYCR7ONHKHP3QIMIWFRPNO4)
World AIDS Day is tomorrow on December 1st. It's time to get real about the growing problem with HIV in the U.S. and around the world.
According to Avert there are over 33 million people in the world infected with HIV and over 1.2 million people in the U.S. While much of the 33 million people infected with HIV are in 3rd world countries such as ones in Sub-Saharan Africa where transmission from mother to child is extremely high we have to seek more education and funding right here in the U.S.
Many people in the U.S. have a slightly skewed view of HIV thinking that it can't happen to them or that it's only prevalent in certain communities of people and that's simply not true. Anyone can be at risk although some people practice riskier behavior then others.
Image credit World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day started in 1988 as a way to raise awareness, educate people, and raise funding for research. Since then it has become a world wide observance with 191 countries participating this year. But even with the raised awareness around the world and advances in medications there are still to many people in the world without access to them.
In Santa Fe there is plenty going on that you can be a part of to help in many different ways.
World AIDS Day Event
Santa Fe College's Center for Student Leadership and Activities will be teaming up with Health Sciences and various student organizations to distribute FREE condoms and prophyactic items while raising global AIDS awareness. So come out to the Oak Grove from 11:00am to 2:00pm to unite in the worldwide fight against HIV and AIDS.
World AIDS Day Fund-Raiser
The Queer Straight Alliance Club will be having a Fund-Raiser from 3:00pm to 4:00pm at the Sand Fe campus track. This event is in conjunction with SLA.
Santa Fe Reporter