FST marks World AIDS Day
November 30, 2016
Dec. 1 marks World AIDS Day as well as the beginning of Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week.
World AIDS Day, held for the first time in 1988 as a response to the widespread silence and stigmatization surrounding HIV/AIDS, unites worldwide efforts against the disease.
Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week was launched by the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) to raise awareness and continue discussions on Aboriginal HIV and AIDS issues in Canada and runs from Dec. 1-5.
In 2015, 1.1 million people worldwide died of AIDS-related illnesses (according to AIDS by the numbers report from UNAIDS). By the end of 2015, an estimated 36.7 million people around the world were living with HIV.
In Canada, an estimated 75,500 Canadians were living with HIV, and an estimated 2,570 new HIV infections occurred in 2014.
Family Service Toronto and David Kelley Services support those in our communities who are living with/affected by HIV/AIDS and commit to renewing efforts in raising awareness of HIV/AIDS, combating stigmatization, and honouring those whose lives have been lost to HIV/AIDS.
The Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (PWA) will hold a Community Carnation Memorial at the 519 on Dec. 1 at 5:45 p.m..