World AIDS Day 2014: Events, Themes Bring Awareness for HIV/AIDS
People around the world are coming together to support those living with the HIV and AIDS virus on Monday Dec. 1 for the 26th annual World AIDS Day.
This year's theme is "Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation."
About 35 million people are living with HIV and an estimated 34 million have died from AIDS.
Many events are taking place in New York to commemorate the national day. The Museum of Television and Radio showed screenings every day of the five-part series "Pandemic: Facing AIDS."
On National World AIDS Day, Doctors Without Borders opened a photo exhibit about its AIDS efforts in South Africa. At the Cathedral Church of St. John's, HIV advocates and victims will recite their testimonies in between performances from the South African Sinikithemba Choir and more.
The United Nations Children's Fund pushed for more investment and access to treatment for children saying that more infections among children under age 15 need to be averted.
UNICEF said that AIDS-related deaths are not decreasing in the age group 10-19. Yet, other groups have experienced about a 40 percent decline between 2005 and 2013.
"We must close the gap, and invest more in reaching every mother, every newborn, every child and every adolescent with HIV prevention and treatment programs that can save and improve their lives," UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake told USA Today.
This year's theme was picked to highlight the need to for governments and health officials, NGOs and individuals to address AIDS prevention and treatment.
President Obama will livestream an official proclamation for the day at noon from the White House as each president has for the last 19 years.
The world is talking on social media about the day using the hashtag #WAD2014.
UNESCO tweeted, "Social taboos are not excuse! Young people need real commitment to their sexual health #WAD2014."
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is holding awareness and testing events throughout the U.S. in about a dozen states including New York and D.C.
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of latinpost.com