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Posted on December 2nd 2024
HAB6 Students wear RED for WORLD AIDS DAY
HAB6 Students wear RED for WORLD AIDS DAY to raise awareness and fundraised over £100 for the National Aids Trust by selling the iconic red ribbons, an enduring symbol of support for anyone who has been affected by HIV and AIDS.
HAB6 Students strike a pose in the shape of the aids awareness ribbon as a message of solidarity.
Martha, a Year 12 student and HAB6 Council Member, has written the following insightful and informative article;
WORLD AIDS DAY
On 1st December 2024, World AIDS Days becomes 36 years old. World AIDS day is incredibly important because it is a time to learn about HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is a virus that damages the cells in your immune system, and it weakens your ability to fight off everyday infections and diseases. Since 1988, communities have united on World AIDS Day to show strength and unity as we remember all who have experienced HIV/AIDS.
WHEN IT STARTED?
The HIV/AIDS virus was originally found in monkeys but crossed over to humans. When the virus first appeared in humans, people who had the virus became ill and died. Scientists were stuck by the high number of gay people who had HIV/AIDS in the 1980s. Mainstream society reacted with prejudice and marginalised the gay people who were ill. This homophobic reaction meant that over 10,000 gay people died because they were not given the medical treatment they needed. In response, the LGBTQ+ community marched on the streets and protested about the discrimination they were facing. Eventually, Governments from around the world changed the law to ensure that a cure was made to save everyone who had HIV/AIDS, regardless of their sexuality. In more recent times, HIV/AIDS has become more common in Africa. The WHO African Region remains most severely affected, with one in every 30 adults (3.4%) living with HIV/AIDS and accounting for more than two-thirds of the people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.
TREATMENT
The first step to treating HIV/AIDS is to be tested for the virus. People with HIV/AIDS are treated using antiretroviral medicines. They work by stopping the virus spreading in the body, allowing the immune system to repair itself. The goal of HIV/AIDS treatment is to have an undetectable viral load. This means the level of HIV virus in a person’s body is so low it does not destroy the immune system and cannot be passed on to another person.
The “Red Ribbon” is the international symbol for World AIDS Day. The artist who designed the ribbon chose red as it is easy to see and because of the symbolic associations with the heart, and love.
Wear the Red Ribbon like us to show your support for World AIDS Day!
By Martha Year 12
