World AIDS Day (WAD) is held on 1st December each year since 1988 and is about increasing awareness, fighting stigma, improving education, mobilising resources and raising funds for the global response to HIV and AIDS.
Raising awareness of HIV is crucial to get to zero new HIV infections. A red AIDS awareness ribbon is worn around World AIDS Day which is a symbol of awareness, support and remembrance of those affected by HIV and AIDS.
HIV and AIDS estimates (2013) in Ghana
- Number of people living with HIV – 220,000 [170,000 – 300,000]
- Adults aged 15 to 49 prevalence – rate 1.3% [1.0% – 1.7%]
- Adults aged 15 and up living with HIV – 190,000 [140,000 – 250,000]
- Women aged 15 and up living with HIV – 110,000 [87,000 – 150,000]
- Children aged 0 to 14 living with HIV – 35,000 [25,000 – 46,000]
- Deaths due to AIDS – 10,000 [5,000 – 18,000]
- Orphans due to AIDS aged 0 to 17 – 180,000 [88,000 – 250,000]
Source: www.unaids.org
Check also the following link to increase awareness of HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saharian Africa:
http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-sub-saharan-africa.htm
As one of our main goal is to increase awareness on Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) among the communities we work in, we remind that taking responsibility by testing for HIV is the only way to know if you are HIV positive and it is an easy and important way to take care about your sexual health.
Ancora of Hope Organization - ANCHOR 