Mobilize social forces and jointly fight against AIDS

In order to raise people's awareness of AIDS, the World Health Organization designated December 1 as World AIDS Day starting in 1988, calling on countries and international organizations around the world to hold relevant activities on this day to promote and disseminate knowledge about AIDS prevention.

The observance of World AIDS Day can arouse people's sympathy for and understanding of people living with HIV and AIDS patients, and call for global collective action to support AIDS prevention, treatment, and anti-discrimination efforts.

As of the end of October 2021, data released by the National Health Commission showed that there were 1.14 million reported cases of people living with HIV in China, with the overall AIDS epidemic in the country maintained at a low prevalence level.

I. Background of Establishment

The full name of AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is a malignant infectious disease with an extremely high fatality rate caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). After HIV invades the human body, it can destroy the immune system, causing the infected person to gradually lose the ability to resist various diseases, and may even lead to death. It is one of the most challenging medical problems at present.

In just over 30 years, AIDS has spread rampantly around the globe and has become a major public health and social issue, drawing great attention from the World Health Organization and governments of various countries.

To call on people around the world to take action and unite together to fight AIDS, in 1988, at the World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention, a proposal was made to establish a World AIDS Day, calling on countries and international organizations to hold relevant activities on this day to promote and disseminate knowledge about AIDS prevention. Since the world's first AIDS case was diagnosed on December 1, 1981, the World Health Organization designated December 1 each year as World AIDS Day. Since then, this concept has been adopted by governments, international organizations, and charitable institutions worldwide.

II. Main Symbol

The Red Ribbon

The symbol of World AIDS Day is the red ribbon. The meaning of the red ribbon: The red ribbon is like a bond that tightly connects people all over the world in the common fight against AIDS. It symbolizes our care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS patients; it symbolizes our love for life and desire for peace; it symbolizes that we must use our "hearts" to participate in the work of AIDS prevention.

III. Purpose of Establishment

The main purposes of establishing World AIDS Day are:

First, to let people know that AIDS can be controlled and prevented on a global scale;

Second, to let people know that a very important aspect of preventing AIDS is that everyone must take responsibility for their own actions;

Third, through the observance of World AIDS Day, to arouse people's sympathy for and understanding of people living with HIV and AIDS patients;

Fourth, to hope that everyone will support the AIDS prevention and control plans formulated by their respective countries, so as to rally people around the world to take collective action in support of AIDS prevention, treatment, and anti-discrimination efforts.

IV. AIDS Prevention and Treatment Related Services

(I) National Services

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention is a public institution directly under the National Health Commission. Its main responsibilities include "carrying out disease prevention and control, and conducting infectious disease surveillance and evaluation." People living with HIV and AIDS patients can go to disease control and prevention centers at all levels and medical institutions designated by health administrative departments to receive free consultation and HIV antibody preliminary screening tests.

2. Chinese Foundation for Prevention of STD and AIDS
   The Chinese Foundation for Prevention of STD and AIDS (CFPSA) was established in Guangzhou on June 21, 1988, with the approval of the National Health Commission (formerly the Ministry of Health) and the People's Bank of China. Originally named the Global Foundation for STD and AIDS, it was renamed the Chinese Foundation for Prevention of STD and AIDS in 1994. The Foundation promotes and implements the national guidelines and policies for the prevention and control of STDs and AIDS, unites forces from all sectors of society, promotes scientific knowledge and advanced methods for the prevention and treatment of STDs and AIDS, cares for and assists vulnerable groups affected by STDs and AIDS, and contributes to the prevention and control of STDs and AIDS and the promotion of social harmony and progress. The scope of the Foundation's work includes: caring for and assisting women and children affected by STDs and AIDS, people living with HIV and AIDS patients, and their families.

(II) Social Organization Services

1. Chinese Association of STD and AIDS Prevention and Control
   The Chinese Association of STD and AIDS Prevention and Control was established on November 30, 1993, under the supervision of the National Health Commission (formerly the Ministry of Health). It is a national, professional, non-profit social organization voluntarily formed by individuals, enterprises, public institutions, and social organizations engaged in the prevention and treatment of STDs and AIDS. It serves as a bridge linking the government with social forces participating in the prevention and treatment of STDs and AIDS, and is an important social force in China's AIDS and STD prevention and control work.

2. China HIV/AIDS Information Network (CHAIN)
   The China HIV/AIDS Information Network (CHAIN) is a national information exchange and sharing platform involving the government, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations, established in 2001.