Honoring survivors and lives lost, reducing stigma, and addressing inequalities
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. – The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department, the City of San Jose, and local partner organizations join organizations around the world to commemorate the 34th annual World AIDS Day, December 1. Events this year focus on addressing health inequities still prevalent today, magnified by COVID and monkeypox (mpox, or MPX), for people living with HIV and AIDS. A series of free, in-person and virtual events with local organizations are open to the public.
Partners honor and remember the nearly seven thousand people diagnosed with HIV in Santa Clara County since the beginning of the fight, including 4,991 people diagnosed with AIDS.
“Progress against the HIV pandemic has faltered in the last two years of COVID-19, putting millions of lives at risk,” said Supervisor Mike Wasserman, President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. “Today is a global call to action to increase equal access to testing, treatment and prevention, and to fight the stigma faced by people living with HIV.”
“Just a few decades ago, an AIDS/HIV diagnosis was shrouded in fear, ignorance, stigma and discrimination,” said Supervisor and Board Vice President Susan Ellenberg. "Today, with more accessible treatment and prevention options, and with gratitude to our dedicated community partners, we must continue to work hard to overcome the inequities that still exist. With increased knowledge, acceptance, and belonging, we can realize the goal to end AIDS/HIV."
“Today we call on leaders throughout California, the nation and the world to ensure everyone has access to the health services they need regardless of their finances. Right now HIV/AIDS is by no means a pandemic of the past,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez.
“As we reflect on this year’s theme of Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility, I want to thank the health care workers and advocates who have stepped up here in Santa Clara County to make a leader in the work to get to zero cases. We’re looking to a future where we must continue the fight to stop new cases, expand and support the rights of people living with HIV, and tear down the stigmas and discrimination. After another hateful act against a community that has faced too much, we stand in solidarity, we see you, and we’re going to fight for you to live freely and openly. Love wins,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee.
This year, the mpox outbreak highlighted the health inequities still affecting many of the same communities impacted by HIV. In Santa Clara County, more than 29 percent of mpox cases also had HIV when diagnosed with mpox. The Public Health Department with partner organizations enrolled many additional people diagnosed with MPX in HIV PrEP, a prescribed medication that protects people from HIV infection. From the start, Public Health prioritized mpox stigma reduction and partnered with LGBTQ+ and HIV services organizations to share information in several languages about prevention, testing, treatment, and vaccination.
“We are incredibly grateful for the continued partnership with community organizations, advocates, family members of those lost to AIDS, and health care providers in the fight against HIV. We’ve continued this important work throughout the COVID pandemic, and so have these dedicated partners,” said Dr. Sarah Rudman, Deputy Health Officer of the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department. “It was largely thanks to these same community partners that we were able to face the mpox outbreak head on, guided by input from those experiencing the greatest burden of the outbreak.”
Since 2014, Santa Clara County has consistently shown improvement in its ability to rapidly link people with HIV to medical care, even faster than the national average. The County continues to prioritize access to HIV testing, prevention medication, and treatment for everyone who needs it. However, there is still work to be done to get to zero new HIV cases each year and achieve equitable outcomes for disproportionately impacted communities.
In particular, Hispanic/Latinx individuals living in Santa Clara County continue to be disproportionately impacted by HIV and account for 56 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in 2021, the most recent data available.
Everyone plays a role:
- Get tested. The most common STI symptom is no symptom at all, so getting tested is the only way to know your status. Find free HIV testing services and more at GetTestedSCC.org.
- Stay protected. Your risk of getting HIV from sex can be lower if you combine prevention medication, called PrEP, with condoms and other prevention methods. Learn about free and confidential PrEP services in Santa Clara County at sccphd.org/prep.
- Get involved. The Santa Clara County Getting to Zero initiative focuses on reaching zero new HIV infections, zero stigma, and zero HIV-related deaths. Learn about program activities or join a committee at GettingtoZeroSCC.org.
This year’s UNAIDS call to action is to “equalize” availability and quality of health services, reforming policies to tackle stigma around the disease, and ensuring equal access to the best technology in HIV science. According to the United Nations, only a third of at-risk populations around the world have regular HIV prevention access.
Santa Clara County World AIDS Day Events:
Find more information about all events at sccphd.org/worldaidsday
Santa Clara County Flag Raising
Tuesday, November 29
12:30 - 2 p.m.
70 W Hedding St, San Jose, CA 95110
Hosted by Office of LGBTQ Affairs and County of Santa Clara Public Health
Speaker Panel and Film Screening of United in Anger: A History of ACT UP
Wednesday, November 30
6 - 9 p.m.
San Jose State University Student Union, 2nd level, room 3
1 Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95112
Hosted by PRIDE Center at San Jose State University, Bay Area Community Health Clinic, The Health Trust, Asian Americans for Community Involvement, and Partners in AIDS Care and Education (PACE) Clinic
City of San Jose AIDS Quilt Viewing
Thursday, December 1
10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
200 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
Hosted by Project MORE, Silicon Valley Pride and The Health Trust
City of San Jose Flag Raising
Thursday, December 1
1 - 2 p.m.
200 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
Hosted by Project MORE, Silicon Valley Pride and The Health Trust
Candlelight Vigil at the Rotunda
Thursday, December 1
5:30 - 8 p.m.
200 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
Hosted by Project MORE, Silicon Valley Pride and The Health Trust