World AIDS Day 2009

Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. The World AIDS Day theme for 2009 is 'Universal Access and Human Rights'. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.4 million people living with HIV, including 2.1 million children. During 2008 some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.

The Barbados Fire Service HIV/AIDS Committee was established in June 2007 and seeks to provide assistance, support and education to members of the Fire Service and their families. The committee also has a secondary role as a member of the national HIV/AIDS campaign.

Fire Officers have donated to the HIV/AIDS Food Bank and attended numerous sensitization programmes during the last two years. The HIV/AIDS Committee has also been instrumental in piloting the creation of an HIV/AIDS Policy for the members of the Barbados Fire Service. On this World AIDS Day 2009 we ask that you continue to support HIV/AIDS awareness and the work of the various local organizations.

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