NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2008
PROCLAMATION
"WORLD AIDS DAY"
The global spread of HIV infection and AIDS necessitates a worldwide effort to increase communications, education and action to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. The joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) observes December 1st of each year as WORLD AIDS DAY, a day to expand and strengthen worldwide efforts to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS estimates that over 33.4 million people are currently living with HIV/AIDS, with young people under the age of 25 accounting for more than half of all new infections. The American Association for World Health is encouraging a better understand-ing of the challenge of HIV/AIDS nationally as it recognizes that the number of people diagnosed with HIV and AIDS in the United States continues to increase, with 930,000 AIDS cases reported (as of December 31, 2003). WORLD AIDS DAY provides an opportunity to focus on HIV infection and AIDS, caring for people with HIV infection and AIDS, and learning about HIV and AIDS. This year marks the 20th Anniversary for both the Wateree AIDS Task Force and World AIDS Day. The 2008 WORLD AIDS DAY THEME is “STOP AIDS: KEEP THE PROMISE” and the national response to this year’s campaign is “LEAD-EMPOWER-DELIVER”.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Joseph T. McElveen, Jr., Mayor of the City of Sumter, do hereby proclaim Monday, December 1, 2008 as
"WORLD AIDS DAY"
in the
CITY OF SUMTER
and urge all of our citizens to take part in activities and observances designed to increase awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS as a global challenge, to take part in HIV/AIDS prevention activities and programs, and to join the global effort to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS.
Joseph T. McElveen, Jr., Mayor
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