World AIDS Day 2011

December, 1st is World AIDS Day, a day to raise awareness, funding, and get help to the people that need it the most.

How Many People Have HIV

Right now there is 33.4 million people living with HIV in the world, which is nothing considering how many people have this, according to Your STD Help and 86,500 people living with HIV in the UK. While the UK numbers are pretty small compared to the rest of the world at around just .1% it's still a growing problem that isn't going to go away any time soon.

New HIV diagnosis have more than doubled since 1999 in the UK and the trend is continuing to stay at a steady pace. Despite growing numbers in the UK and around the world awareness of the virus seems to be declining and that's what World AIDS Day is all about.

Many people think that HIV and AIDS is just a homosexual issue which couldn't be farther from the truth. In fact most new HIV infections in the UK are attributed to heterosexual intercourse. Making it mainstream yet many people don't know what it is or how prevalent it really is in the world.

What is HIV

HIV is contracted through the exchange of sexual fluids, through infected blood, and through a mothers breast milk. The virus attacks the immune system rendering it useless when other infections enter the body and as it gets worse the body can have a hard time fighting the simplest of infections. In time when the immune system has been almost completely destroyed HIV will have developed into full blown AIDS.

What Can I Do

This year for World AIDS Day you can get involved by helping to spread the word on HIV (just talking about it can help more than you would think), donate money to a number of research and local organizations, and attend local events. And of course the most important. Get Tested!

If we all work together and stop the lies about HIV we can start slowing down the spread of the disease and eventually eradicate it all together.

Here's a list of local events around london:

South London's first World AIDS Day Conference

On 1st December 2011, Metro Centre and the Big Lottery will be hosting South London's First World AIDS day conference.

Venue: The Woolwich Centre, on the top floor glass pod with a fantastic view across London.

Time: 9.30am to 4.30pm with morning tea/coffee and a buffet lunch provided.

Who is it for?: The conference is open to people living with HIV, people working within the HIV sector, academics and students.

Aims:  The day is about celebrating the positive future for those living with HIV and to remember those individuals who've died from AIDS in the past 30 years. The conference aims to look at current and relevant topics affecting people living with the virus.

Confirmed speakers:

• Doctor Matthew Weait from Birkbeck College: Criminalization of HIV
• Doctor Adam Bourne from Sigma Research : Sero-discordant relationships (reporting on a recent study into African heterosexuals)
• Doctor Peter Keogh from the University of Greenwich: The direction of HIV treatment into the 21st century
• Speaker from Antidote: Recreational Drug use amongst gay men and the impact upon retro-viral medication
• Rev Martin Mc Manus from LEAT: God / Faith/ HIV
• Speaker from Lighthouse: The future direction of HIV benefits and the welfare state

How can I register?: Pre-registration is essential as spaces are limited. Register here today.  

Where?: The Woolwich Centre can be reached via the Overground and DLR at Woolwich Arsenal Station and by bus. Plan your journey in advance using the TFL Journey Planner. 

An African Women’s support group is being held by Positive East to support people with HIV/AIDS on 30 November at St John’s Church, Stratford 5.30pm – 8.30pm.

There will be a film screening with Academy Award Winning director Danny Boyle’s unique World AIDS day film ‘Millions’ at Stratford Picture House December 4 at 4.00pm. Tickets are from £35 and are available at http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/positiveeast. Proceeds go to the charity Positive East.