In a bid to raise awareness and to unite people across the globe in the battle against the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), every year, December 1 is observed as World AIDS Day

AIDS is defined as a disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which meddles with the functioning of the immune repertoire and rthus weakens the body's ability to fight infections and diseases

According to UNAIDS, globally there are an estimated 38.4 million people who have HIV. Despite being identified in 1984, HIV claimed more than 35 million lives, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history

AIDS can be transmitted through the use of contaminated syringe or shared activities such as injecting drugs into the bloodstream, sexual intercourse without condom or diaphragm, or from an mother to child during pregnancy through breastfeeding

The origin of World AIDS Day dates back to August 1988 when James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter conveyed the idea for the observation of this day to the Director of the AIDS Global Program, Dr Johnathan Mann, who approved it for December 1

Both James W Bunn and Thomas Netter were public information officers for the AIDS Global Program of the World Health Organisation

WHO declares that this year World AIDS Day 2024 will be observed under the theme “Take the rights path: My health, my right!”

The organization calls upon global leaders and citizens “to champion the right to health by addressing the inequalities that hinder progress in ending AIDS”