World AIDS day: What does it mean to me?

International AIDS society

World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988.In this day we also reflect on  what  so far have been done in fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It is  a day to remember our loved ones who  died or are in critical conditions due to AIDS. In most sub-Saharan African countries, no single family has not been at least once felt the presence of HIV/AIDS.
To some, the world AIDS day reminds them the worst experience they have ever had in their lives,  for example death of a parent, partner or relative . To others, this day reminds them the fact that they are living with HIV  (and of course they are not alone) and the world is trying its level best to find a solution (a permanent cure) to their problems. To others, especially in places that have fewer infections, it is just another normal day, but it might be interesting to read about different stories or news  about the disease or just go on with normal daily activities.
Regardless of the situation: The world through its international organisations such as the United Nations, the International Non-governmental organisations, multinational corporations, national governments, civil society organisations, communities and concerned individuals, see this day as a special day for all people in the world  because  the HIV infection  does not care about your current situation. The virus  does not know geographical borders , it does not know  the race  you belong to, it does not know  your social-economic status, it does not know  your religion, it does not know any of the admirable personal characteristics that  you have and  human beings admire or are attached to.
For that reason, in this day everybody should reflect how s/he has been contributing to the fight of the pandemic from the individual level to the greater role in the community. It is a day that at least at individual level you have to do something( I belive you can), do it with your immediate family members (if you are parent discuss with your children about AIDS and if you are a child or youth ask your parents or guardians about HIV/AIDS). It is a time for everybody to say something on this disease to friends, family, community or  Nation.
 It is also a time to reflect what has been done and what is left to accomplish the desired goal of bringing HIV infection to zero infection. For many people in the developed world, HIV is a manageable disease, it is no longer a death sentence like what happened in the 1980s at the beginning of the pandemic (but it is still deadly). Through the discovery of the antiretroviral drugs, it means that people have managed to live long productive life. Recent studies report that people diagnosed with the disease can live 30 years plus after the diagnosis if they are on antiretroviral therapy.
However, one in four of the HIV positive people have not been diagnosed and half of those who are diagnosed are diagnosed late. Unless we tackle this problem of diagnosing the undiagnosed, death is going to continue.
According to United Nations, the situation in Africa is also encouraging. The number of new HIV infection is falling. In sub-Saharan Africa they droped by a quarter between 2001 to 2011. Tim Martineau speaking with DW said that “What’s strongest is the response in a number of eastern and southern African countries where the epidemic is perhaps at its greatest. Malawi has seen a 72 percent change in incidence, Zambia 58 percent, Namibia 68 percent. Ethiopia has seen a 90 percent decline and South Africa, the country with the biggest epidemic in the world, has seen a decline of 41 percent and there's been a rapidly expanding response there with the new commitment in that country".He also pointed out at the challenges in funding HIV/AIDS interventions in developing countries, pointing to the irregularities in managing HIV/AIDS funds in some countries.
According to TACAIDS, the prevalence of HIV infection in Tanzania is slightly declining. The national prevalence among the sexually active populations (between 15 and 49 years of age) is reported to be 5.7 %. The data shows more women (6.6 %) are infected than men (4.6%). These data shows that there is a lot to do to make Tanzania a HIV/AIDS free country.
Finally, an HIV free generation can be realised only if there is a political commitment in addressing  the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
 NB: Inspired by the International AIDS society call for its members to say something on  what World AIDS day mean to them, I thought of saying something on it!