Press Release: World AIDS Day – As important as ever to remain vigilant and increase awareness, the Commission notes

AIDS has already claimed the lives of more than 25 million people throughout the world, while an estimated 33.2 million live with HIV – alarming numbers highlighting the need to remain vigilant vis-à-vis one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. To mark World AIDS Day, commemorated every year on December 1, Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou has invited European Health Ministers to join him in a pan-European effort to spread common messages on prevention and increasing the awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among young Europeans. He encouraged ministers to visit schools and 11 countries agreed to participate in this initiative. Ministers will be visiting schools in their countries today and in the days to come. The Commissioner himself is today visiting a high school in Cyprus, where he plans to present a new TV-spot promoting the use of condoms and safer sex and have a chat with teenage students on HIV/AIDS.

European Commission: MEMO/07/531: Questions and Answers on HIV/AIDS http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/531&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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