World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1. It gives an opportunity for people across the world to come together and unite for the fight against the HIV. People, across the globe, show their support for people living with the HIV and commemorate those who lost their battle against the disease. ‘World AIDS Day’ was the first ever global health day and was held in 1988.

The day is important because it reminds the public and government that the HIV is still claiming the lives of the people. There is a vital need to raise awareness among the people of the country regarding the disease.

Laraib Hameed

Rawalpindi

*****

Although the world is fighting vigorously against the HIV, the number of people living with the HIV is increasing every year. In Pakistan, more than 2000 cases of HIV were reported, last year. A few children also contacted the virus owing to sexual harassments and abuse in an innocent age.

The lack of support for the people who are living with this virus not only isolate these people, but the unsupportive behaviour prevents them to get themselves cured. A lot of people don’t get the tests done out of public fear. The fear of rejection makes them live with the virus silently. They then prepare to die as silently as they had lived with the disease. The people should understand that hugging the HIV person or sitting close to them does not spread the virus. The government should take action and carry out awareness programmes so that the people suffering from the disease can get proper treatment.

Maheen Aziz

Karachi