December 1st is AIDS
December 1st is AIDS Day, and was created to raise awareness about AIDS, which is caused by the HIV virus (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). It is an opportunity to educate people about prevention, treatment and combating the stigma associated with the disease, as well as remembering those who have died due to AIDS-related complications. The day was created by the WHO in 1988 to raise awareness about the HIV/AIDS pandemic, becoming the first global health day. The initiative came from James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter of the UN, who saw the need for a date to draw attention to the health crisis. The choice of this day was intended to avoid overlapping with election campaigns and Christmas. Despite advances in antiretroviral treatment, HIV is still a serious global problem, with more than 38 million people living with the virus and millions of new infections annually, according to UNAIDS.
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