February 15, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day, designated on Dec.1st each year, was first observed in 1988. 

This year, similar to previous years, organizations and individuals across the world bring attention to the HIV epidemic, endeavor to increase HIV awareness and knowledge, speak out against HIV stigma, call for an increased response to move toward ending the HIV pandemic and honor those who have died from the disease. 

In 2019, there were still 38 million people living with HIV infection. One in five people living with HIV were not aware of their infection and one in 3 people receiving HIV treatment experienced disruption to the supply of HIV treatments, testing and prevention services, especially children and adolescents.

The global HIV epidemic is not over and may be accelerating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately despite significant efforts progress in scaling up HIV services was already stalling before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Slowing progress means the world will be missing the “90-90-90” targets for 2020, which were to ensure that: 90% of people living with HIV are aware of their status; 90% of people diagnosed with HIV are receiving treatment; and 90% of all people receiving treatment have achieved viral suppression. Missing these intermediate targets will make it even more difficult to achieve the end of AIDS by 2030.

COVID makes it difficult and dangerous for frontline health workers to deliver continuous, high quality HIV services to everyone who needs them. Sickness and restricted movement make it difficult for people living with HIV to access services.

On World AIDS Day 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on global leaders and citizens to rally for “global solidarity” to overcome the challenges posed by COVID-19 on the HIV response.  WHO has chosen to focus on “Global solidarity, resilient HIV services” as the WHO theme for World AIDS Day this year.

The WHO held an online seminar on World AIDS Day, covering global efforts to ensure global solidarity and resilient HIV services, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many celebrities took to social media to honor World AIDS Day and Grammy winning singer Elton John took the opportunity to honor Dr. Anthony Fauci. 

Fauci is popularly known as trying to educate the public about the Coronavirus but his work on the global HIV/AIDS crisis earned him praise from the iconic singer Elton John. 

Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, served as the National Institutes of Health’s AIDS coordinator before becoming the first director of the NIH’s Office of AIDS Research, where he served from 1988 to 1994. 

He helped create the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a program started in 2003 under President George W. Bush to help save the lives of those with HIV/AIDS in the developing world. 

Fauci expressed optimism when asked if he believed we would see an AIDS free world but said work to combat the deadly disease must persist. 

Related Posts

Anger Rises Over The Erasure of Transgender and Queer People From National Park Website

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Trump Administration Tries to Deny LGBTQ+ History  GLAAD and The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative have condemned the Trump administration’s...

UCLA Suspends Pro-Palestinian Student Groups Following Protest at UC Regent’s Home

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Chancellor Cites Potential Student Code Violations; Student Groups Reject Allegations UCLA has suspended two pro-Palestinian student organizations following a protest...

Flash Flood Warning Issued for Burn Areas, LAFD Officer Swept off Road by Debris

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Storm Damage Closes Pacific Coast Highway, Officials Urge Caution Not even members of the LAFD are being spared from the...

Here are Your Last Minute Ideas if You Still Haven’t Planned Your Valentine’s Day Date

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Luscious Cookies, Delightful Drinks, Full Dinners at Home or In House, We’ve Got Them Okay, maybe you have been a...

Beloved Baldwin Hills Family-Owned Restaurant Post & Beam to Close After 13 Years

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Community Icon Shuts Doors as Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Redevelopment  In yet another loss for the Los Angeles culinary community,...

Santa Monica Hotel Event Space Offers Affordability, Accessibility

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Elevate Your Events with Versatile Venues and Exceptional Service Coastal stays and eclectic event spaces don’t have to be expensive....

Flour Pizzeria & Cafe to Bring Brooklyn-Style Pizza to Brentwood This Week

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Family-Owned Favorite from the Palisades to Open on San Vicente  Flour Pizzeria & Cafe, a restaurant from Pacific Palisades run...

LA Attorney Who Represented Rodney King Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion Scheme

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Milton C. Grimes Ordered To Serve Time in Prison and Pay Restitution Milton C. Grimes, a longtime Los Angeles attorney,...

ART& 2025: NeueHouse Unveils Inspiring Lineup Celebrating Feminine Leadership

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

Four-Day Event in Venice Beach Explores Creativity, Activism, and Cultural Impact NeueHouse has unveiled the schedule for ART& 2025, a...

Free Sandbags Available for West Hollywood Residents Ahead of Heavy Rain

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

City Distributes Sandbags to Help Protect Homes and Businesses from Flooding West Hollywood residents and businesses can receive free sandbags...

Canned Tuna Pulled from Shelves Over Botulism Contamination Risk

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

El Segundo Seafood Company Issues Voluntary Recall Through FDA Tri-Union Seafoods has issued a voluntary recall of certain canned tuna...

Retailers Impose Purchase Restrictions as Supply Chain Disruptions Cause Concern

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Egg Limits Are Back – What’s Causing the Shortage? Retailers across the United States, including Costco and Trader Joe’s, have...

Homemade Signs Purporting to be From Immigration and Customs Enforcement Appear in WeHo

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Work of Vandals Was Quickly Removed, But Who Put Them Up and Why?  Signs bearing the U.S. Immigration and Customs...

New Bill Targets Crime in Disaster Zones – Here’s What You Need to Know

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Lawmakers Push for Tougher Penalties To Protect Vulnerable Communities California lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at cracking down...

What about are you protected from future wildfires?

February 9, 2025

February 9, 2025

Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the recent wildfires and Santa Ana windstorms in Southern California. We...