World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, every year United Nations agencies, governments and civil society join together to campaign around specific themes related to AIDS. This year’s theme for World AIDS Day, which will be marking its 30th anniversary on 1 December, will be “Know your status”.

Significant progress has been made in the AIDS response since 1988, and today three in four people living with HIV know their status. But we still have miles to go, as the latest UNAIDS report shows, and that includes reaching people living with HIV who do not know their status and ensuring that they are linked to quality care and prevention services.

HIV testing is essential for expanding treatment and ensuring that all people living with HIV can lead healthy and productive lives. Unfortunately, many barriers to HIV testing remain. Stigma and discrimination still deter people from taking an HIV test. Access to confidential HIV testing is still an issue of concern. Many people still only get tested after becoming ill and symptomatic.

"So many people still think HIV-positive is a death sentence and are afraid to test. The good news is HIV-positive people are living increasingly long lives providing they are diagnosed in good time, have good access to medical care and are able to adhere to their HIV treatment," said Cindy Stiles, public health nurse with the Allegan County Health Department.