Worlds AIDS Day allows organisations to reaffirm their commitment to finding improved HIV treatments

World AIDS Day is held on 1 December every year, and observed around the world with the intention of raising awareness of the global impact of HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day unites people worldwide in the fight against HIV, demonstrating their support for those who are living with HIV as well as remembering people who have died and applauding the progress that has been made in responding to the epidemic and pledging to end it. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day. The first one was held in 1988 and its theme was communication.

Every year various themes are chosen, the theme for the 2011 to 2015 period is Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS-related deaths.

The number of people living with diagnosed HIV in the UK continues to rise. This is a result of longer life expectancy due to effective antiretroviral therapy, ongoing HIV transmission and continued numbers of new diagnoses. Along with this is the age of those accessing care for HIV; this continues to increase, with approximately one in six now aged over 55 years (Public Health England, 2015).