More Awareness Needs To Be Created About HIV And AIDS, Say Netizens On World AIDS Day 2020

New Delhi: World AIDS Day, celebrated every year on December 1, is an international observance day. Established in 1988 by World Health Organisation’s Global Programme on AIDS (now known as Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS or UNAIDS), the day aims to raise awareness about HIV and to commemorate those who succumbed to the disease. The theme for the World AIDS Day 2020 is ‘Ending HIV/AIDS Epidemic – Resilience and Impact’ which focusses on the disease during the COVID-19 pandemic and reinforces the urgency of ending the disease around the world. As the world observes the day, several netizens including ministers, celebrities took to social media to lend their support and shared messages on the importance of following proper measure to prevent the disease and fighting the stigma around it.

Also Read: World Aids Day 2020: Here Are Some Lessons From Fight Against AIDS For Combating COVID-19

Highlighting the significance of the day in the times of COVID-19 pandemic, the official Twitter handle of the United Nations posted,

Globally, 12.6 million people living with HIV still don’t have access to treatment, and #COVID19 is exacerbating the challenges they face.

Secretary-General of the UN António Guterres, also expressed concerns over the number of people dying every day due to the lack of access to proper healthcare. He said,

Health is a human right – and universal health coverage must be a top investment priority. To overcome #COVID19 and end AIDS, the world must stand in solidarity and share responsibility.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) shared messages to thank the healthcare workers who have been fighting the disease and also talked about the stigma around AIDS and ways a per may and may not contract HIV.

Also Read: World AIDS Day 2020: Experts Debunk Some Of The Common Myths About HIV And AIDS

Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan took to Twitter to salute the people involved in the delivery of medicines and providing assistance to those living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said,

A globally coordinated response has been critical in controlling the AIDS epidemic. On #WorldAIDSDay, I salute all stakeholders for ensuring continued dispensation of drugs, home delivery of medicines & providing assistance to people living with HIV during the #pandemic

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey, said that World AIDS Day holds a special importance in raising awareness about HIV and AIDS and urged people to lend their support to the cause.

Biplab Kumar Deb, Chief Minister of Tripura highlighted that HIV continues to be a major health issue across the country and can be combatted by raising awareness.

Prakash Ranjan, a Twitter user shared how women Panchayat leader in Bihar observed the World AIDS Day. He said,

#WomenPanchayatLeaders of #Bihar observed #WorldAIDSDay2020 to raise awareness & to unite community members in the fight against the global health issue of #acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome.
#EndingtheHIV #ResilienceImpact

Another user Rahul Singh urged people to know more about HIV/AIDS and stop the discrimination against those living with HIV.

Actor Rashami Desai also took to her Instagram account and shared a video talking about AIDS. The Uttaran fame actor, who was also on Bigg Boss last year, thanked the doctors and healthcare workers in her video and added that even though the doctors and science have progressed to A level where the medicines available make it possible to keep it under control the issue doesn’t just end there. She added,

The only person who can save you from this disease is you, yourself.

Watch her video here

See more

Also Read: World AIDS Day 2020: Meet 44-Year-Old HIV Positive Warrior Who Is Helping Other Patients In Their Fight

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.