Promoting HIV/AIDS awareness

World AIDS Day is internationally celebrated on December 1 to raise awareness about the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) recently expressed a renewed focus on the prevention of HIV, stating that young people are at the core of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in terms of its transmission, vulnerability and potential for change.

In preparation for the upcoming World AIDS Day, the Health Promotion Department is currently preparing a series of talks and open discussions with students in post-secondary school, with the target of disseminating information and addressing any sexual health queries that the students might have.

World AIDS Day will also be the launch pad for other initiatives with young people, amongst which talks with young people at their place of work. Information will also be available from www.health.gov.mt

The public is invited to clarify any questions or issues related to sexual health by contacting the Department on 2326-6121.