The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Communities make the difference”.
The 1st of December always signifies world HIV day and today is an important opportunity to recognize the essential role that communities have played and continue to play in the AIDS response at the international, national and local levels.
World AIDS day was founded in 1988 and each year there is a different theme – this years being about the role communities play in helping those with HIV. The importance of having strong communities cannot be underestimated when it comes ot the prevention of HIV, education and support for those with the disease through support networks and mentors.
Thinking about the future greater mobilization of communities is urgently required to address the barriers that stop communities delivering services, including restrictions on registration and an absence of social contracting modalities. The strong advocacy role played by communities is needed more than ever to ensure that AIDS remains on the political agenda, that human rights are respected and that decision-makers and implementers are held accountable.
You may wonder what Physiotherapy has to do with world AIDS day and helping those with the disease. Well we have plenty of resources to help you play your part in strengthening the community today and beyond. We are lucky enought to have had Derren Brown write a number of blogposts for physiospot over the past few years and all are available for you to read. Below is an example post for you to delve into.
HIV – What has Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation got to do with it?
We also have an incredibly detailed Physiopedia page about HIV and AIDS which serves as a great starter document for you to refresh or learn about the disease and what physio’s can do to help.