Town centre landmarks turned red to mark World AIDS Day

Landmarks turned red to mark World AIDS Day

To raise awareness of World AIDS Day, Darlington town centre landmarks will be turned red and Council staff will wear red ribbons to show support for the national campaign.

This year’s campaign, which is ran annually by the National AIDS Trust, encourages people to ‘rock the ribbon’ to show support for those living with HIV who are fighting stigma and discrimination.

Today, an estimated 105,200 people in the UK live with HIV, with 98% of those people on an effective treatment and 97% on an effective treatment that means they cannot pass on the virus.

Yet a survey by the National AIDs Trust has found that there is still severe misunderstanding about HIV – with only 16% of respondents knowing that if someone is on effective treatment, they can’t pass on HIV and can expect to live a long and healthy life.

Darlington Borough Council staff and councillors are showing their support by wearing the red ribbons and donating to the campaign, in addition to marking the day by lighting buildings red.

Councillor Nicholson, cabinet member for health and housing, said: “40 years on from the first reported case, it is shocking to see that there is still so much stigma around HIV in the UK.

“With the developing research into a vaccine and effective treatments already available that allow people with HIV to live a long and healthy life, the virus is no longer the death sentence that it once was – yet many people still see it that way.

“By supporting the Rock the Ribbon campaign and lighting the town clock red, we are raising awareness of World AIDS Day and its mission to provide free teaching materials on HIV and ensure everyone living with HIV has access to treatment and support services.”

To find out more and donate to the campaign, visit https://www.worldaidsday.org/campaign/.