It's World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is celebrated across the globe today, December 1.

And, many organizations are hosting testing and other events to commemorate the day, while raising awareness about the devastating disease.

This year’s theme is “Getting to Zero” — zero new infections, zero AIDS cases and zero discrimination.

The World Health Organization, or WHO, organized the first World Day in December of 1988. The first reports of AIDS were in 1981, 30 years ago.

About HIV/AIDS

Since then, more than 600,000 people in the U.S. have lost their lives to the disease, and more than 25 million worldwide have died of AIDS since its inception, according to published reports from the UNAIDS and WHO.

AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is the most advances stage of HIV infection. HIV, or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, targets the immune system and weakens people's ability to fight infections and some types of cancer.

The virus is contracted through unprotected and close contact with bodily fluids, including blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluids. You cannot become infected through routine activities, such as kissing, hugging or shaking hands.

More and more, however, people are living long lives with HIV, thanks to advances in medicine. In 2010, there were approximately 34 million people living with HIV in 2010.

Still, HIV infection is one of the world's leading causes of death, with more than 60 percent of the people infected living in sub-Saharan Africa.

World AIDS Day Events

Positive Impact will host its sixth annual ARTvision Atlanta.The fundraiser features fine art for sale, entertainment and food, with 100 percent of proceeds going to the nonprofit.

Action Cycling is sponsoring a 30-mile ride through the Emory University area to mark the 30th year of AIDS. The event benefits AIDS vaccine research at the university's Emory Vaccine Center. 

AID Atlanta is hosting “Woven Together: 30 Years of Fighting HIV/AIDS” 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. in Magnolia Hall at Piedmont Park to recognize volunteers, members and staff.

The city of Atlanta is hosting a World AIDS Day program, which begins at 11 a.m. at the City Hall. The event is about 35 minutes, and will feature an invocation by pastor Kenneth Samuel, who leads Victory For the World Church in Stone Mountain.

MODA, the Musuem of Design Atlanta, is having a 24-hour program, featuring poetry reading, dancing, a film screening of "Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt," tours of the musuem, lectures and more.

Testing

AID Gwinnett/Ric Crawford Clinic Program is having FREE rapid testing all day, until 4 p.m. The center will also have a brief World AIDS Day ceremony from 11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. The center is located at 3075 Breckinridge Blvd., Suite 415, Duluth.

AID Atlanta is also one of several organizations joining with the National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities to offer FREE HIV testing at Atlanta’s City Hall today. Testing is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Information for this report was compiled from UNAIDS, the World Health Organization, AID Atlanta, the city of Atlanta, AID Gwinnett/Ric Crawford Clinic Program, MODA, Emory University and the GA Voice publication.