World AIDS Day observed at UC Merced

In 1981, the first reports of deaths from a mysterious “lung infection” were recorded in the United States. By that end of that year, 121 individuals had died from what later was known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, according to an AIDS.gov timeline.

Thirty-four years later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1.2 million Americans live with human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, the virus responsible for AIDS. About 12.8 percent of those people are unaware of the infection, according to the CDC.

In Merced County, there were 246 reported cases of AIDS and another 107 cases of HIV as of October, according to the Public Health Department.

HIV and AIDS alertness spikes on Dec. 1, recognized globally as World AIDS Day. The day is meant to create support for those living with HIV. This year, World AIDS Day was observed at the UC Merced through a club fair, a panel discussion, a documentary screening and a candlelight vigil.

Aja Johnson, a senior biology and public health student, led the organization efforts. Johnson said she was inspired to heighten awareness on campus after completing an internship this past summer at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Los Angeles.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation also provided free HIV testing for students on Tuesday.

Johnson said she was pleased to see a growing line of people waiting to get tested.

“There are not very many HIV services available in Merced,” Johnson said. “And our school is quiet about these kind of things. My goal was to ignite that conversation,” she said.

Johnson said organizers were aiming to get at least 100 people tested Tuesday. Based on the response she saw by the afternoon, she believed they would meet their goal.

The school’s World AIDS Fair featured 20 booths, mostly campus clubs but also organizations from elsewhere in the community. Health educators from Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, for example, set up a table with informational pamphlets and brochures.

They also debunked myths about HIV and AIDS through a game board. Some of the most common misunderstandings, the health educators said, revolve around how HIV can be transmitted. “Some people believe HIV can be transmitted through mosquito bites and sweat, and that’s not true,” said Gabby Mendoza, a health educator with the local Planned Parenthood center.

“And what many don’t realize is that HIV can really affect anyone,” she added. “So we’re happy to see students supporting the event and becoming informed.”

This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 7:30 PM with the headline "World AIDS Day observed at UC Merced."