World Aids Day

happens every year on December 1st. Its purpose is to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS and to educate people about how to lower the risk of acquiring HIV. AIDS was first identified in the UK in the early 1980's, despite raised awareness and advances in medical technology leading to decreased deaths, the number of new HIV diagnoses has steadily risen.
 
It is estimated that in the UK alone, there are 58,300 individuals currently living with HIV, over a third of these are unaware of their condition. Globally AIDS claims 8,000 lives every day. In 2005 over 3 million people acquired HIV across the world.
 
The Health Improvement and Development Service marks World Aids Day every year by specific events and by awareness raising campaigns. Keep an eye on the News section of this website towards the end of the year to see what is happening in Portsmouth this World Aids Day.