December 1 is World AIDS Day. Established by the World Health Organization in 1988, World AIDS Day serves to focus global attention on the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The District of Columbia has been severely impacted by HIV and AIDS. As of 2006, there were about 12,500 people reported as living with HIV and AIDS or one out of every 40 residents. The District has the highest HIV and AIDS case rates in the country. It also has higher rates than any major city. 

World AIDS Day is not just a memorial to those lost to the epidemic; it is the opportunity to pledge to do more to fight the disease. 

Mayor Adrian Fenty has made HIV/AIDS his top public health priority.  His leadership calls upon a new partnership with all residents and communities of the District to take these steps:

• Get HIV tests early as part of routine health care
• Act safely to protect your own health
• Ensure people with HIV get quality treatment and care
• Eliminate the stigma of HIV and AIDS as it affects everyone

Here is a calendar of events in the District to commemorate World AIDS Day.  
 

Date	Time	Item	Location
Sat. 11/17- Mon. 12/3		Our Heroes Photography Exhibit	Metropolitan Community Church 474 Ridge St., NW
Wed. 11/28	6:30 - 9 pm	Vaccine Research Center and Us Helping Us Celebration (film, town hall)	Armour J. Blackburn Center East Ballroom, Howard University
Thurs. 11/29	10 am - 1 pm	Children's National Medical Center Health Fair	CNMC Atrium 111 Michigan Ave., NW
Fri. 11/30	8:30 am - 4 pm	HIV Testing	Whitman-Walker Clinic Elizabeth Taylor Center, 1701 14th St., NW
Fri. 11/30	9 am - 4 pm	HIV Testing	La Clinica del Pueblo, 2831 15th St., NW
Fri. 11/30	9:30 am - 4 pm	HIV Testing	Whitman-Walker Clinic Max Robinson Center, 2303 MLK Ave., SE
Fri. 11/30	12 pm	Veterans Affairs Medical Center World AIDS Day Observance	VA Medical Center 110 Irving St., NW 4th Floor Auditorium
Fri. 11/30	2 - 6 pm	Ward 8 Collaborative World AIDS Day Event (testing, health screening)	Allen Chapel AME Church 2498 Alabama Ave., SE
Fri. 11/30	4 pm - 8 pm	LGBTQ Youth Dance for ages 13-21 (free testing)	SMYAL 410 7th St., SE
Fri. 11/30	4:30 pm	La Clinica del Pueblo World AIDS Day Vigil	2831 15th St., NW
Fri. 11/30	5:30 pm - 8 pm	Sasha Bruce Youthworks, Planned Parenthood Youth Event for ages 13-24	Ophelia Egypt Center 3937-A Minnesota Ave., NE
Fri. 11/30	5:30 pm	Whitman-Walker Clinic Annual Candlelight Vigil	Dupont Circle
Fri. 11/30	7 pm - 12:30 am	The Women's Collective Mobile Van HIV Testing	N. Capitol and K Sts., NE
Sat. 12/1	TBA	Our Heroes Exhibit by Us Helping Us	HRC Building 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW
Sat. 12/1	4 - 9 pm	Get Tested with Go-Go 2 Metro Teen AIDS Concert	Market Lounge 1309 5th St., NE
Sat. 12/1	8 pm - 12 am	Us Helping Us Our Birthday for World AIDS Day Bash (testing, entertainment)	HRC Building 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW
Sun. 12/2	1 pm	Metropolitan Community Church Program	474 Ridge St., NW
Sun 12/2	4 pm	DC Catholic AIDS Network and Our Lady Queen of Peace AIDS Ministry Event	Our Lady Queen of Peace Church 3800 Ely Pl., SE