The University of Pretoria’s South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN) project hosted a World AIDS Day event on the Melusi Grounds, near Melusi Clinic.

The event highlighted and created awareness around the importance of knowing your HIV/AIDS status, but also remembering those who have lost their battle with the virus. More than 60 plus people attended the awareness campaign, and among them were the likes of health care workers and community events. In remembrance of those who have fought and lost the battle with HIV/AIDS, a white candle was lit followed by a 5-minute moment of silence to honour them.

Globally around 38 million people have HIV and since the detection of the virus in 1984, around 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS-related illnesses. The theme for World AIDS Day 2021 was “END INEQUALITIES. END AIDS. END PANDEMICS”, the UNAIDS warns of millions of deaths over the coming years if the leaders fail to tackle the inequalities regarding HIV. This past World AIDS Day, UNAIDS highlighted the urgency and need to end the inequalities that drive AIDS and other pandemics around the world. Without bold action against inequalities, the world risks missing the targets to end AIDS by 2030, as well as a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and a spiralling social and economic crisis.

Tackling inequalities is a long-standing global promise, the urgency of which has only increased. The Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026: End Inequalities, End AIDS and the Political Declaration on AIDS was adopted at the 2021 United Nations High-Level Meeting on AIDS have ended inequalities at their core. As well as being central to ending AIDS, tackling inequalities will advance the human rights of key populations and people who are living with HIV, make societies better prepared to beat COVID-19 and other pandemics and support economic recovery and stability. Fulfilling the promise to tackle inequalities will save millions of lives and will benefit society as a whole, however, ending inequalities requires transformative change. Political, economic and social policies need to protect the rights of everyone and pay attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized communities.