Wear red on World AIDS Day Thursday, December 1st

NEWMARKET –  On World Aids Day, Thursday, December 1st, York Region and many community partners will offer a reflective ceremony in support of AIDS awareness, both locally and globally. The public is encouraged to attend and to wear red in support of AIDS awareness.

 

When:  Thursday, December 1, 2005
11:30am

 

Where: York Region Administrative Centre, Great Hall
17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket

 

The reflective ceremony will include offerings of music and dance by students of the York Region District School Board and York Catholic District School Board, short film clips and the participation of dignitaries from the Regional  Municipality of York, York Regional Police , York Region Emergency Medical Services, York Central Fire Services, York Region District School Board, York Catholic District School Board, the York Region Committee in Support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, the AIDS Committee of York Region and the local health care community.

 

The facts about HIV/AIDS are staggering:

 

• An estimated 11.8 million people ages 15 to 24 years around the world are living with HIV/AIDS and half of all new infections worldwide are occurring among young people.
• Health Canada estimates that almost 57,000 Canadians are currently living with HIV/AIDS, with an additional 15,000 Canadians unaware that they are infected
• The number of Canadians living with HIV/AIDS continues to increase, with approximately 4,200 new infections each year.
• York Region is not immune to HIV/AIDS. Last year, York Region reported its highest total, with 26 of our residents confirmed as living with HIV/AIDS.
• In the absence of a cure or vaccine, education is our only defence against HIV/AIDS.

 

AIDS is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which kills or impairs cells of the immune system and progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers. The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of an HIV infection.

World AIDS Day is held every December 1st. On this day, communities around the world honour and commemorate those lost to AIDS and those who continue to live with the effect of HIV/AIDS. It is a day to also mark the achievements made, and the work still to be done, in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

 

Change the world, one person at a time.
Wear red December 1st. Support AIDS awareness.

 

For more information about this event, HIV/AIDS or other health issues, contact York Region Health Services Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.

 

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For more information on the Regional Municipality of York and the services our Region offers, please visit our Web site at: www.york.ca

 

 

 

Media Contact: Jennifer Mitchell-Emmerson, York Region Health Services
 905-830-4444 Ext. 4016
 Email: Jennifer.mitchell-emmerson@york.ca

 

Media interview opportunity:
A York Region resident living with HIV/AIDS  will be available for interview, based on anonymity.