The 20th annual World AIDS Day is being celebrated around the world today and the UA is no exception.
“”Presidents and prime ministers, doctors and lawyers, scientists and schoolteachers, chief executives and trade union leaders, religious groups and communities, and – critically – people living with HIV, are coming together in a brilliant coalition that has proved that, with clear targets and strong commitment, we can move mountains,”” said the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS Executive Director Peter Piot in his 2008 World AIDS Day message on www.unaids.org.
Several UA organizations have come together to host events throughout the week in honor of World AIDS Day. Among them are the Associated Students of the University of Arizona’s Women’s Resource Center and Student Health Advisory Committee.
ASUA Administrative Vice President Seema Patel said the WRC is putting on a sexual education workshop Monday night at 7 p.m. in the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership. She said the workshop is centered on HIV awareness.
WRC has also worked with multiple organizations to provide free HIV testing on Wednesday from noon to 3 p.m. in CSIL, Patel said. It is preferred if you make an appointment in advance by contacting Jai Smith at jais@email.arizona.edu, she added.
According to a UA News press release, there will be several related lunch talks held this week as well as a candlelight vigil tonight. SHAC is showing an AIDS quilt on the UA Mall from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, said Patel.
“”It’s all about health awareness,”” said ASUA President Tommy Bruce. ASUA is involved in planning and implementing a week focusing on a different health issue each month in order to make students aware of the knowledge and resources that surround them, Bruce said.
Patel said though AIDS is a global issue, it “”makes sense”” to have events such as those this week on a college campus where students are sexually active. In addition to this week, the WRC hosts “”sex training pretty frequently,”” Patel said, and “”sexually-transmitted diseases are one of the topics that are covered.””
While the WRC organizes other events throughout the year, Patel said this week’s are “”definitely in conjunction with the world movement. (AIDS is a) worldwide epidemic affecting millions and millions of people.””
Bruce said he hopes that students will turn out for the events this week.
“”If you reach one student, you’re successful,”” said Bruce, who explained that the student reached would then reach their friends, who would in turn reach their friends.
Explaining why some ASUA programs chose to plan events on HIV and AIDS awareness and resources, Patel said, “”It’s just an issue that’s affecting so many people in the United States and the world, really.””
