World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day, the first-ever global health awareness day, was established in 1988. The initiative was the brainchild of James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officers working at the World Health Organization (WHO). Their vision was to create a day dedicated to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, addressing the stigma surrounding it, and advocating for global action to combat the epidemic.

The inaugural World AIDS Day took place during a critical period when the HIV/AIDS epidemic was poorly understood and surrounded by fear, misinformation, and discrimination. At that time, the disease was often met with silence, and those living with HIV/AIDS faced severe stigma and isolation.

Dr. Jonathan Mann, the head of WHO’s Global Program on AIDS, fully supported the idea and recognized its potential to mobilize international efforts against the disease. The date, December 1, was strategically chosen to ensure maximum media coverage, as it fell between major U.S. holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Initially, World AIDS Day focused on raising awareness among children and young adults. Over time, its scope broadened to include people of all ages, as the epidemic affected millions globally.

In 1996, the responsibility for organizing World AIDS Day was taken over by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). UNAIDS introduced the concept of annual themes to address specific aspects of the epidemic, such as prevention, treatment, and human rights.

Since its inception, World AIDS Day has grown into a powerful platform for:

• Advocacy and education.
• Mobilizing funding for research and healthcare.
• Celebrating advancements in treatment, such as the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the mid-1990s.