Since 1988 December 1st has been recognized world wide as a day for raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. It is also a time to commemorate the lives lost; according to UNAIDS, as many as 36.3 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic in 1981. Thanks to advances in technology and education, AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by 64% since the peak in 2004 and by 47% since 2010, but many are still dying.

This year's theme, "End Inequalities. End AIDS. End Pandemics" focuses on addressing the inequalities that influence the disease while calling for greater leadership and partnership among institutions, including those in higher education. Initiatives in health education and promotion are key to help prevent the spread of HIV, while schools can offer a curriculum teaches basic medical facts about AIDS, HIV transmission, prevention, and care for people living with AIDS.

The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.

• Carnegie Hall Marks World AIDS Day. (1988, Nov 26). New York Amsterdam News (1962-1993)

• AIDS Day Activities Widespread. (1988, Dec 02). The Hartford Courant (1923-)

• Workshop Addresses AIDS. (1989, Dec 03). Atlanta Daily World (1932-)

• Sama, D. (1993, Dec 05). AIDS Red Ribbon Now Graces Newest U.S. 29-Cent Stamp. Chicago Tribune (1963-1996)

• Larcen, D. (1994, Nov 28). Observing World AIDS Day. The Hartford Courant (1923-)

• Neyer, C. (1995, Dec 01). Soldiers Against AIDS Honored: Leadership, Life Saluted On Eve Of World AIDS Day. The Hartford Courant (1923-)

• Richardson, L. (1998, Nov 28). World AIDS day Seen Regaining Old Fervor. New York Times (1923-)

• Colvin, L. (2001, Nov 28). Dec. 1 Is World AIDS Day: People Of Color Increasingly New Victims; No Longer a "Gay" White Male Disease. New Journal and Guide (1916-2003)

• Hendrix, V. (2003, Dec 04). Remembering World AIDS Day and Facing the Secret World Of HIV. Los Angeles Sentinel (1934-2005)

• Help Where It's Needed Most: In the Late 1990s, Ireland Made a Decision to Commit Large Parts Of Its African Aid To the Battle Against HIV AIDS. (2007, Dec 01). The Irish Times (1921-)

Tips:

• Dumais, Nancy, ed. HIV/AIDS - Contemporary Challenges. IntechOpen, 2017. e-book

• McPartland, Randall. HIV and AIDS. New York: Cavendish Square, 2016. e-book

• Piot, Peter, and Laurence Garey. AIDS Between Science and Politics. New York: Columbia University Press, 2015. e-book

• Schauer, Pete. AIDS and Other Killer Viruses and Pandemics. New York: Greenhaven Publishing, 2018. e-book

Images:

• AIDS Awareness Sign Red Ribbon, Courtesy of Flickr. Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

• Special News Slide, Courtesy of the Gottesman Libraries

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