Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day
The Red Awareness Ribbon serves as a visual representing your commitment to ending the disgrace and stigma associated with HIV infection and your support of persons living with HIV and your support for finding a cure for HIV/AIDS. It is traditional to wear a red awareness ribbon all day on World AIDS Day. It is becoming popular for naturists/nudists to use body paint and create a red ribbon on their bare skin.
December 1 was first designated as World AIDS Day by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988. Since that time, it is internationally observed in every country as we are all living in a world that is constantly impacted by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. This year marks the 28th anniversary of that first observance.
World AIDS Day is one of eight official global public health campaigns observed and sponsored by the WHO. The other campaigns are: World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunization Week, World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Malaria Day and World Hepatitis Day.
The 2016 Theme for World AIDS Day is "Hands-Up for HIV Prevention."
World AIDS Day is one of eight official global public health campaigns observed and sponsored by the WHO. The other campaigns are: World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunization Week, World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Malaria Day and World Hepatitis Day.
The 2016 Theme for World AIDS Day is "Hands-Up for HIV Prevention."
World AIDS Day was initially conceived in August, 1987, by James Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public health information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS of the WHO in Geneva, Switzerland.
Each year, Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis have released messages for both patients and physicians in honor of World AIDS Day. They have, during their respective reigns, offered prayers for a world living with the effects of HIV/AIDS.
In the USA, President William "Bill" Clinton issued a Presidential Proclamation on World AIDS Day in 1995. He was the first U.S. president to do so. Since then, every sitting U.S. president has followed suit. In 2007, the White House (the official residence of U.S. presidents) began observing World AIDS Day with a display of a 28-foot Red AIDS Awareness Ribbon publicly displayed on the North Portico of the building. It was the first banner to prominently hang from the White House since the administration of President Abraham Lincoln in the 1860s. This tradition has continued ever since.
Red Ribbon Display, White House, Washington, D.C., USA
Currently, there is no effective cure or vaccine to prevent HIV infection. However, education is universally recognized as the tool for fighting HIV transmission. Persons who are sexually active are encouraged to use a condom as a means of prevention against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Persons who inject prescribed or non-prescription drugs are encouraged not to share needles and syringes and to seek counseling and help to end their dependency on drugs.
For additional information on World AIDS Day and on HIV/AIDS, please visit the sites linked below:
Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!
Bare With Pride
Author's Note: Customarily, on the first of every month, this blog features a "Do Something Naked Today" post. In honor of today being World AIDS Day, the regular feature will publish tomorrow, December 2, 2016. Please join with me in wearing a Red Ribbon today and sharing your knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention with someone you love.
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