Santa Clara County commemorates 36th Annual World AIDS Day
Events will honor survivors, remember lives lost, combat stigma, and address health and racial disparities.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. – The County of Santa Clara, along with local partner organizations and commissions, joins others from around the world to commemorate the 36th annual World AIDS Day. In addition to the day observed internationally on Dec. 1, Santa Clara County will be commemorating World Aids Day on December 4, as the community shows support for people living with HIV and AIDS and honors those who lost their lives. Information on events open to the community and the press can be found at sccphd.org/WorldAidsDay.
"World AIDS Day is an opportunity for us to both celebrate our progress in the fight against AIDS and take collective action in sustaining and accelerating prevention efforts,” said Sera Fernando, manager of the Office of LGBTQ Affairs for the County of Santa Clara. “Santa Clara County is proud to unite with the rest of the world to support those with AIDS, help end HIV-related stigma, and remember the friends and loved ones we have lost."
“On World AIDS Day this year, the theme is ‘Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress’,” said Dr. Kristen Walsh, of the PACE Clinic at Santa Clara Valley Healthcare. “In my experiences as an HIV doctor within the Santa Clara County health system, this highlights how we must act collectively in our advocacy, in our implementation of the science, and in the recognition of our shared humanity to ensure progress for those living with HIV.”
HIV in Santa Clara County
Public Health Department data through December 2023 shows that the rate of reported HIV diagnoses in Santa Clara County has continued to increase since a downturn during the COVID pandemic and is now back to its prepandemic levels. The 2020 downturn is likely attributable to reduced testing for HIV when non-emergency health services were often delayed.
| Calendar year | HIV diagnosis rate in Santa Clara County (per 100,000 people) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 10.1 |
| 2020 | 7.4 |
| 2021 | 8.1 |
| 2022 | 10.1 |
| 2023 | 10.4 |
Among the groups most disproportionately affected by HIV in 2023 in Santa Clara County are people identifying as Hispanic/Latino, who make up 25% of the overall population, 49% of the population of people living with HIV, and 65% of new HIV infections in Santa Clara County. Also disproportionately affected are people identifying as African American/Black, who make up 2% of the overall population, 9% of the population of people living with HIV, and 5% of new HIV infections.
Communities with the least access to resources continue to have the highest burden of STIs and HIV.
“World AIDS Day is an opportunity to recognize racial disparities that persist and to recommit to doing everything we can to better reach communities that are being hit the hardest. Working together is the best way to eliminate the social and structural issues that lead to increased HIV infections,” said Dr. Akanksha Vaidya, assistant health officer for the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department.
Resources Available
The Public Health Department and partners provide resources focused on health and racial equity to get to zero new HIV infections. Programs also work to ensure those who are living with HIV can lead healthy and fulfilling lives.
The PACE Clinic and Crane Center offer a variety of programs and treatment options in Santa Clara County available to people in any stage of HIV infection. At the Crane Center at 976 Lenzen Ave. in San Jose, patients can access free rapid HIV, hepatitis C, and syphilis testing; low-cost tests for other sexually transmitted infections; medications to prevent HIV and other STIs; and counseling in a welcoming and compassionate environment.
Get Involved
While World AIDS Day is commemorated in December, the fight to end HIV is an ongoing effort. The Public Health Department offers many ways to get involved.
- HIV Commission – Panel of community members with lived experience and medical specialists provides advice and makes recommendations to the County of Santa Clara regarding HIV issues, determines the priority of HIV service needs of the community, and allocates funds to each service
- Getting to Zero – A collaboration of community partner organizations and the County that guides service coordination and program direction to get to zero new HIV infections, zero HIV-related deaths, and zero HIV-related stigma and discrimination