The World Health Organization (WHO) declared December 1 as World AIDS Day in 1988 providing an  opportunity for people across the world to come together in the battle against the disease, show support to those living with it, and mourn those who have lost their lives. The day also acknowledges the achievements and global efforts to deal with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The WHO estimates that 3.77 million people were living with AIDS in 2020. Each year, organizations and individuals across the world bring attention to the HIV epidemic, endeavor to increase HIV awareness and knowledge, speak out against HIV stigma, and call for an increased response to move toward ending the global HIV epidemic.

One in four people living with HIV in the United States is a woman. Women of all ages, races, and ethnicities can get HIV, but some women are more at risk than others. We continue to make progress towards eliminating HIV and AIDS in the U.S., but women remain disproportionately vulnerable to and affected by HIV infection — especially black and Latina women. Black women account for the largest share of new HIV diagnoses among women in the U.S.; however, we are only 14% of the female population in the United States. Black women face the highest risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections compared with women of other groups; however, many Black women do not know their HIV status. Stigma, medical mistrust, and fear of discrimination often prevent some Black women from getting tested or from seeking care. Latina women make up 15% of new HIV infections among women. Cultural challenges may raise Latina women’s risk for HIV as they may avoid seeking testing, counseling, or treatment if infected because of their immigration status, stigma, or fear of discrimination. Overall, poverty may also prevent both subsets of women from seeking care. 

According to statistics, over 36 million lives have been lost to HIV or AIDS-related diseases so farand an estimated 37.7 million individuals were living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2020, making it one of the deadliest diseases in the world.

Raising awareness about HIV/AIDS is the first step to eradicating it.