World AIDS Day 2020

Posted in RESOURCES

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP
Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare

Above you’ll see the logo for U.S. theme for this year’s World AIDS Day as well as the CDC World AIDS Day poster.  This day is observed each year on December 1, beginning in 1988. 

“Today on World AIDS Day, we reflect both on the remarkable progress that has been made against HIV as well as the considerable challenges that remain. We now have highly effective HIV treatment and prevention methods, and work is underway to address the remaining challenges in delivering these tools to the people who need them most, as well as to develop new interventions. The National Institutes of Health continues to advance rigorous, innovative research to prevent new HIV transmissions and improve the health of people with HIV worldwide.  If current HIV treatment and prevention methods could be optimally implemented, an end to the HIV epidemic is feasible. This year, NIH awarded approximately $10 million to support implementation science research to advance the goals of the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America initiative, which aims to reduce new HIV diagnoses in the United States by at least 90% by 2030. ”  NIH Statement on World AIDS Day 2020

Here are some facts about HIV:

  • Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV today. About 14 percent of them (1 in 7) don’t know it and need testing.
  • An estimated 36,400 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2018.
    • In 2018, 37,968 people received an HIV diagnosis in the U.S. and 6 dependent areas—an overall 7% decrease compared with 2014.
  • HIV diagnoses are not evenly distributed across states and regions. The highest rates of new diagnoses continue to occur in the South.
  • HIV incidence remained stable in 2018 as compared with 2014. The rate was 13.3 (per 100,000 people).
  • The annual number of HIV infections in 2018, compared with 2014, decreased among persons aged 13–24, but remained stable among all other age groups. In 2018, the rate was highest for persons aged 25-34 (31.5), followed by the rate for persons aged 35-44 (16.9).

HIV can affect anyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, gender or age.   Learn more about HIV and AIDS as well as testing and treatment!