Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. The World AIDS Day theme for 2009 is ‘Universal Access and Human Rights’. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.4 million people living with HIV, including 2.1 million children. During 2008 some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS related illnesses before they are 35.

A vast majority of people with HIV and AIDS live in lower- and middle-income countries. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world. In Ireland, there are approximately 5,000 people living with HIV and AIDS.

For further information and support please contact:

Open Heart House – www.openhearthouse.ie

Dublic Aids Alliance – www.dublinaidsalliance.ie

 Aids Care Education & Training ACET – www.acet.ie

Cocern Worldwide – www.concern.net

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