#letsendit

Since it was founded in 1988, World AIDS Day takes place on the 1st December each year, aiming to unite people in the fight against HIV. It is an opportunity for people to show support for people living with HIV, to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness, and to raise awareness of preventing HIV.

There are an estimated 36.7 million people in the world who are living with HIV. In the UK alone, there are currently over 100,000 people who have HIV, with around 6,000 people diagnosed with HIV each year. Since the virus was identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history (NAT, 2016).

One problem in the fight against HIV is that people do not know the facts about how to protect themselves and others from contracting the virus. Also stigma and discrimination remain a reality for many people living with the condition, often making it a taboo subject.

As part of the Relationship and Sex Education curriculum, CSCW provides lessons about HIV, aiming to educate young people on what HIV is, how the virus works and how to protect themselves against it.  Also the lessons seek to reduce the stigma for people living with HIV and thanks to scientific developments people are able to do just that, live with the HIV virus.

Jesus epitomised compassion, demonstrating it by radically loving everyone, no matter what their condition. CSCW are passionate about educating young people about human worth and compassion towards others. Through the RSE work, the hope and aim is that young people will love and value themselves enough to protect themselves against HIV and other STIs; love and value others enough to protect them and have compassion towards people living with the virus.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

To support World Aids Day 2017, go to www.worldaidsday.org/campaign/lets-end-it

End isolation. End stigma. End HIV transmission. #letsendit