World Aids Day 2020

The Greater Manchester PaSH (Passionate about Sexual Health) Partnership announces plans for World AIDS Day – December 1st 2020

World AIDS Day, founded in 1988, is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV today, and to commemorate those who have died from an HIV-related illnesses.

The global World AIDS Day theme this year is ‘Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility’

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, activities in Greater Manchester around World AIDS day will not be the same as in previous years. There will be no street collections and people will not be able to gather together in Sackville Gardens for the traditional Vigil.

This year, the World AIDS Day Vigil has moved online and will be streamed via the George House Trust website www.ght.org.uk/vigil at 7pm on Tuesday December 1st, ensuring that people can still take part in this important event.

The Vigil will be an opportunity to remember people lost to HIV, to stand in solidarity with people living with HIV today and to look to the future and the ambitious aim of ending all new transmissions of HIV by 2030.  

The Vigil will also reference the PaSH Partnership’s award-winning HIV awareness campaign “HIV: Let’s Sort this Together” www.sorthiv.org.uk (winner of the best Health and Beauty campaign at the 2020 Northern Marketing Awards) 

As there will be no street collections this year, a ‘text to donate’ facility has been set up meaning that people can still donate to the work of the organisations in the PaSH Partnership – BHA for Equality, LGBT Foundation and George House Trust.

To donate, people simply need to text ‘RIBBON’ plus the amount they wish to donate to 70085.

Jeni Hirst, Director of Service Development at BHA for Equality said:

“People and communities have always played a vital role in response to HIV, and over the years we have seen community action at its best and most vibrant. Unfortunately, whilst communities support and encourage, they can also shun and isolate and people living with HIV still experience significant stigma and discrimination. World AIDS Day provides us with the opportunity as organisations and communities, to challenge and address stigma together”  

Rob Cookson, Deputy Chief Executive at LGBT Foundation said:

World Aids Day is an opportunity to reflect and remember loved ones. It is also important to remember the progress made in trying to end both stigma and get to zero new transmissions of HIV. Regular testing, PrEP, PEP, condoms and lube and treatment combine to give us an opportunity to prevent HIV. The message is clear: HIV Lets sort this together

Darren Knight, Chief Executive at George House Trust said:

“World AIDS Day gives us the chance to pause and think about those we have loved and lost and it’s a massively important day in shining a light on the issues that still exist. Recognising and marking World AIDS Day ensures that we will not forget anyone or the history of HIV and equally importantly, ensure that we work together so that everyone continues to have the support and services that they need to live happily and healthily with HIV”

Published: 26-Nov-2020: (6056)