World AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1. Established in 1988 by the World Health Organization, World AIDS Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and focus attention on the global AIDS epidemic. Over one million people in the U.S. are living with HIV. Worldwide there are an estimated 33 million people living with HIV.

How can you help stop the spread of HIV? It’s critical that you know your HIV status, understand how HIV is spread and always take action to protect yourself. Here are things you can do to help stop the spread of HIV:

• Practice safer sex to prevent HIV, including using a condom.
• Don't engage in high risk behaviors like sharing needles.
• Talk about HIV prevention with family, friends and colleagues.
• Provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS.
• Get involved with or host an HIV/AIDS awareness event in your community or at your religious institutions.

Lastly, take a few moments to check out these resources for more information about HIV and AIDS:

• Find an HIV testing location near you in the United States: send a text message with your ZIP code to KNOWIT (566948) or visit www.hivtest.org
• Planned Parenthood provides information on HIV/AIDS and testing
• Learn more about World AIDS Day and find materials to promote the event at www.aids.gov
• WorldAidsCampaign.org has brochures and information about events worldwide
• PEPFAR.gov is the official website of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief