International Day of Remembrance for People Who Died of AIDS

International Day of Remembrance for People Who Died of AIDS is celebrated annually on the third Sunday of May in many countries around the world.

This day was marked on the calendar exactly 40 years ago – back in 1983. At the same time, people began to attach a red ribbon to their clothing to express their solidarity with people affected by AIDS and measures aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV. This ribbon has become an international symbol of the fight against AIDS. At that time, people knew little about HIV infection. Due to the fear of a new unknown disease and the lack of scientifically proven information, many myths have arisen. Thus, it was then that HIV infection was dubbed the “plague,” people with a positive HIV status began to be called “victims of AIDS,” and these definitions turned out to be extremely “tenacious.”This day was originally called the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (candlelight memorial ceremony). The name does not contain the word “victims” – it appeared over time as an interpretation of the name of the day and fear of a new disease.For many years, there was an equal sign between the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and death. Today, thanks to the achievements of modern medicine, HIV infection has become a chronic disease that can be controlled: antiretroviral therapy slows the progression of HIV infection and gives people with HIV the opportunity to live a full life. Today, all patients with HIV infection in our country receive therapy free of charge. Therefore, we do not say “victims”; on this day we remember people who died of AIDS.

According to statistics from the World Health Organization, today there are about 40 million people living on the planet with HIV-positive status, and since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 40 million people have died from diseases associated with HIV infection.

More than 24 thousand people live in the Republic of Belarus with a diagnosis of HIV infection. About 2 thousand new cases of HIV infection are registered in the country every year. The largest number of new cases in recent years has been registered among people aged 30 to 49 years; sexual transmission of HIV predominates, accounting for more than 80%.

The main ideas of the International Day of Remembrance of People Died of AIDS are support and solidarity with the community of people affected by HIV infection, uniting and supporting the efforts of government, public and international organizations in countering the HIV epidemic.

In 2023International AIDS Day of Remembrance will be held on May 21 under the slogan: “Spread love and solidarity, not HIV”, in other words “Give love , not HIV.” In order to attract public attention to the problem of HIV infection, as a sign of support and solidarity, events are organized on this day, and memorial services are held in churches.

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, together with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Belarus, as well as UN agencies in the Republic of Belarus, within the framework of the International Day of Remembrance of People Died of AIDS, in 2022, a ribbon-shaped flower bed was laid on the territory of the Central Botanical Garden – International symbol of the fight against AIDS and a memorial sign was installed. Continuing the tradition, this year the flower bed will be restored and plants will be planted in the “Japanese Garden” being created. In addition, it is planned to improve and green the territory of the Minsk City Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital (consultation and dispensary department for HIV infection). We invite all interested and caring people to join in organizing and holding events dedicated to the International Day of Remembrance of People Who Died of AIDS.

Department of HIV Prevention and PVH State University Republican Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health.