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World AIDS Day - December 1

INFORMATIONAL LETTER:  51
POLICY CODE:  IHMAC    

TO:     All Superintendents of Schools, Public and Private Secondary and Elementary
School Principals, School Counselors, Health Educators
FROM:      Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner, Department of Education
DATE:     November 24, 2009
RE:     World AIDS Day – December 1       
                              
World AIDS Day, the first day of December, is recognized each year in an effort to remind us of this epidemic that reaches around the world.  There are now an estimated 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children according to UNAIDS estimates.  The World AIDS Day effort started in 1988 to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education.  This year’s theme is, “Universal Access and Human Rights.”

U.S. data: HIV disease is among the top nine leading causes of death among persons 25-44 years old in the United States.  Every 9-1/2 minutes someone in the U.S. is infected with HIV. (U.S. CDC)

World data: Young people (under 25 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide. (UNAIDS)

HIV prevention still demands our attention.  At the Department of Education HIV Prevention Education Program, HIV prevention curricular trainings are all evidence-based, demonstrating reduction in risk behaviors.  Maine educators can feel confident in the effectiveness of the Department’s HIV prevention trainings. Teachers seeking assistance in planning HIV/AIDS prevention activities with their students may contact the HIV Prevention Education Program at 624-6692, TTY 1-888-577-6690 or by email at hiv.doe@maine.gov .  A wealth of information and resources for World AIDS Day—background of the disease, treatment, current data on risk behaviors among youth, sexuality education, testing and teacher resources—can be found at our website:  http://www.maine.gov/education/hiv/resources.html .  This resource is updated regularly and includes Maine data on HIV and STI incidence.
For questions or more information, contact Jean Zimmerman, program coordinator, at the HIV Prevention Education Program at 1-207-624-6687 or jean.zimmerman@maine.gov .