World AIDS Day, observed on 1 December every year, is dedicated to
raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.
Government and health officials observe the day, often with speeches or forums
on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an
official proclamation
on World AIDS Day.
Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued
similar announcements.
AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007, and an
estimated 33.2 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007, making it one
of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved
access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the
AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007,of which about
270,000 were children.
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.
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