Billings artworks aim to raise awareness for World AIDS Day

“So some people were, ‘No, no thanks, ‘ when they heard it was for World AIDS day, some say, ‘Will it make me look gay?'” said Warren.

Health officials say the best prevention is abstinence and protection.

In a new report released on Tuesday in Harare, MSF said that improving the delivery of medication required the commitment of countries and global donors. The United States stands out among Western nations for its remarkably low proportion of HIV-positive individuals who are diagnosed; in regular medical care; on ARVs; and who have a fully suppressed viral load.

Today, on World AIDS Day, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) announced it will partner with Johnson & Johnson, Gilead Sciences and ViiV Healthcare to reduce AIDS infection of young women and girls globally.

“Certainly a big part of this day is to remember, remember the people who are gone”, St. Julian said.

“This year is the first year that there have been no mother to newborn transmissions”, Cuomo said. However, those affected are living longer and Kloeckl said HIV and AIDS has become a forgotten disease.

He also asked for expanded access to a drug that can be taken daily by people at high risk of HIV exposure to prevent them from becoming infection.

Fiza Irfan of the Lansing Area AIDS Network explained, “Socially it’s still hard to live with the disease just because a lot of people are not educated about it. people do not know that it’s very treatable”.

Under the five-year campaign, called AIDS Free Pittsburgh, North Side-based Allegheny Health Network and Downtown-based UPMC will work with the county, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, the University of Pittsburgh and other local groups.

New cases of HIV/AIDS continue to grow at a steady pace each year, but those who are living with the disease have hope.