Speech on AIDS day
I welcome all my dear teachers and students today as I give a small speech about AIDS on World AIDS day. We all know that World AIDS Day is celebrated on 1st December. This tradition has been started since the year 1988. It is an international day, which is dedicated towards raising awareness regarding AIDS, which is caused due to HIV.
AIDS Day is celebrated globally by health officials from the government sector, non-government organizations and by individuals independently. Education and awareness on AIDS control and prevention is imparted on AIDS Day. World Health Organization (WHO) includes AIDS Day among the eight official global public health campaigns.
As per latest reports, it has been known that AIDS has taken the lives of almost 28.9 – 41.5 million people in the world. Not only this, about 36.7 million people in the world are surviving with HIV infection. Due to the extent of the ailment, AIDS has been labeled as a prominent global health issue. With the introduction and access of antiretroviral treatment, there has been control on the death rates from the AIDS epidemic. Death rates were at its peak during the time 2004-2005.
The men who were behind the concept of World AIDS Day were Thomas Netter and James W Bunn. The idea was conceived in the year 1987 in the month of August by these two men. They were actually public information officers for the Global Program on AIDS at the World Health Organization. The idea was conveyed to Dr. Jonathan Mann, who was the then Director of the Global Programme on AIDS. The concept was highly appreciated and approved and it was recommended that World AIDS Day would be celebrated on 1st December.
Initially, the theme of AIDS Day was focused on young people and children. This was done as people in this age group were most affected by the problem. However, later the concept was changed as many people opined that people in all age groups were affected by AIDS. Today this day is celebrated all over the world with full enthusiasm.
By Maanasi
EdgeArticles 