World AIDS Day is December 1

Huron Perth, ON – Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) is recognizing World AIDS Day on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. Marked annually on Dec. 1, the day is an opportunity to remember lives lost to HIV/AIDS and to raise awareness about prevention, treatment, and the importance of addressing stigma.

“World AIDS Day is a time to reflect on our commitment and to show support for individuals living with HIV,” says Julie Bergman, Public Health Nurse at HPPH. “Today, medical advancements and treatment options allow those living with HIV to live long and healthy lives”.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has transformed the lives of those living with HIV. ART works by lowering the amount of HIV in the blood to undetectable levels, allowing individuals to live healthy lives and preventing the transmission of HIV to others. When HIV is undetectable (fewer than 200 copies/mL), it is untransmittable – a concept known as Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U).

“We want to remind the community that HIV can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation,” says Bergman. “HIV testing is available for free at HPPH sexual health clinics.” To learn more about services offered or to make an appointment, visit www.hpph.ca/sexualhealth.

HPPH encourages you to wear a red ribbon or a red scarf on Dec. 1 to show your support on World AIDS Day. The Stratford Red Scarf Project installation for AIDS Awareness Week will take place Sunday, Dec. 1 in downtown Stratford. Red scarves, knitted and donated by local knitters, will be placed on parking meters and benches around the downtown core and Ontario Street. In addition, Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC) has organized events as a part of their annual Red Scarf Movement. Events include a concert on Saturday, Nov. 30 at Centennial Hall in London, and a vigil on Sunday, Dec. 1 at Innovation Works in London, with a live-stream option. For more information on the Red Scarf Movement and to get involved, visit www.redscarf.ca.