World Aids Day: Science is defeating HIV, so why does so much stigma persist?

By talking openly and taking appropriate actions we can change the perception and reality of HIV from life-threatening illness to treatable and preventable medical condition

The fountain at Government buildings was illuminated in red to mark World Aids Day in 2020. Picture: Julien Behal 

December 1 marks World Aids Day — the 35th time that this date has been marked globally. 

It remembers those we have lost to Aids and raises awareness of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HIV-related stigma since the onset of this devastating and persistent pandemic more than four decades ago.