World AIDS Day, designated on December 1 every year since 1988  is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day, held for the first time in 1988.

The theme of this year’s event is Hands up for HIV Prevention. The campaign looks at ways to improve prevention strategies, identifying key areas among specific groups of people who are vulnerable to transmission – adolescent girls and young women in particular.

FACT SHEET NOVEMBER 2016

#Global HIV Statistics

18.2 million [16.1 million–19.0 million] people were accessing antiretroviral therapy (June 2016)

36.7 million [34.0 million–39.8 million] people globally were living with HIV (end 2015)

2.1 million [1.8 million–2.4 million] people became newly infected with HIV (end 2015)

1.1 million [940 000–1.3 million] people died from AIDS-related illnesses (end 2015)

78 million [69.5 million–87.6 million] people have become infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic (end 2015)

35 million [29.6 million–40.8 million] people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic (end 2015)

In 2015, there were 36.7 million [34.0 million–39.8 million] people living with HIV.

#People living with HIV accessing antiretroviral therapy    

As of June 2016, 18.2 million [16.1 million–19.0 million] people living with HIV were accessing antiretroviral therapy, up from 15.8 million in June 2015 and 7.5 million in 2010.

In 2015, around 46% [43–50%] of all people living with HIV had access to treatment.

In 2015, some 77% [69–86%] of pregnant women living with HIV had access to antiretroviral medicines to prevent transmission of HIV to their babies.

#New HIV infections

Worldwide, 2.1 million [1.8 million–2.4 million] people became newly infected with HIV in 2015.

New HIV infections among children have declined by 50% since 2010.

Worldwide, 150 000 [110 000–190 000] children became newly infected with HIV in 2015, down from 290 000 [250 000–350 000] in 2010.

Since 2010 there have been no declines in new HIV infections among adults.

Every year since 2010, around 1.9 million [1.9 million–2.2 million] adults have become newly infected with HIV.

#AIDS-related deaths

AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 45% since the peak in 2005.

In 2015, 1.1 million [940 000–1.3 million] people died from AIDS-related causes worldwide, compared to 2 million [1.7 million–2.3 million] in 2005.

Reference: unaids

Tags: Facts About AIDSintresting newstheam of aids day 2016what is AIDSWorld AIDS DayWorld AIDS Day 2016