'Getting to Zero' - Theme for World AIDS Day 2011

Getting to Zero is the theme for the World AIDS Day 2011 as the global community has committed to focus on achieving the 3 targets viz.

1) Zero new HIV infections.

2) Zero discrimination.

3) Zero AIDS-related deaths

In 2010, there were 2.7 million new HIV infections and 1.8 million people died from AIDS. Moreover, in 2011 people living with HIV were still subject to restrictions on their travel and/or stay in 47 countries, territories and areas.

The global HIV epidemic is extremely diverse, with both similarities and differences between regions, countries, provinces and communities .There are 34 million people living with HIV/AIDS. However, in order to meet the challenge of 'Getting to Zero' the global community must work together to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care.

World AIDS Day provides an opportunity for all of us - individuals, communities and political leaders - to take on the challenge of getting to zero.

Brief History of WORLD AIDS DAY

World AIDS Day was first conceived in August 1987 by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Bunn and Netter took their idea to Dr. Jonathan Mann, Director of the Global Programme on AIDS (now known as UNAIDS). Dr. Mann liked the concept, approved it, and agreed with the recommendation that the first observance of World AIDS Day should be 1 December, 1988.

Bunn, a broadcast journalist on a leave-of-absence from his reporting duties at K PIX-TV in San Francisco, recommended the date of 1 December believing it would maximize coverage by western news media. Since 1988 was an election year in the U.S., Bunn suggested that media outlets would be weary of their post-election coverage and eager to find a fresh story to cover. Bunn and Netter determined that 1 December was long enough after the election and soon enough before the Christmas holidays that it was, in effect, a dead spot in the news calendar and thus perfect timing for World AIDS Day.

In 2004, the World AIDS Campaign became an independent organization.

Some of the Celebrities who died of AIDS

Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the rock group Queen. Mercury was 45 when he died on Nov. 24, 1991, just days after quelling rampant speculation by admitting that he was HIV positive and had contracted AIDS.

Arthur Ashe

Former tennis player Arthur Ashe addresses a 1992 World Health Organization (WHO) meeting on the World AIDS Day. Ashe, who contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion, spoke out on AIDS issues until his death on Feb. 6, 1993. He was 49.

Robert Mapplethorpe

Artist and photographer Robert Mapplethorpe was just 42 when he died on March 9, 1989, of AIDS complications. Since his death, his Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation has raised millions of dollars for medical research in the fight against AIDS and HIV.

Actor Rock Hudson

It was 30 years ago this week that federal health officials first reported on a rare and deadly illness they called AIDS. Since then millions have died of it, including these celebrities. 

A leading man in the romantic comedies of the 1950s and 1960s, actor Rock Hudson was among the first celebrities to die of AIDS-related diseases. His Oct. 2, 1986, death, just before his 40th birthday, led his friend and "Giant" co-star Elizabeth Taylor to spend the rest of her life raising funds for AIDS research.

Some of the Links for AIDS foundation

1) http://www.ejaf.org/

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) was established in the United States in 1992 by Sir Elton John. EJAF's U.S. office is located in New York City. In 1993, Sir Elton also established the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF-UK) in the United Kingdom, headquartered in London

2) AVERT : An international HIV/AIDS charity based in the United Kingdom dedicated to preventing HIV/AIDS worldwide. AVERT conducts education campaigns in countries with high rates of infection, particularly South Africa and India.
www.avert.org

3) Kaiser Family Foundation: The Foundation’s gateway on U.S. global health policy provides journalists and others with up to date information about global health issues and includes an interactive tool providing country specific health and other data.
http://globalhealth.kff.org

4) World Bank HIV/AIDS: A division of the World Bank dedicated to the prevention and mitigation of HIV’s social, economic and strategic impact.
www.worldbank.org/aids

5) Magic Johnson foundation: MJF's HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, testing, and treatment programs are designed to help stop the spread of the disease, and improve the quality of life for the individuals and families who are affected. 
http://www.magicjohnson.com/foundation/about.php

Have a Safe life --- lets fight the AIDS epidemic by doing our bit…

Dr.Santosh Joshi

Classical Homeopath

Call us on: +91 9819155780

www.homeopathyclassical.blogspot.com