NUMC hosts World AIDS Day event

Nassau University Medical Center officials marked World AIDS Day with a conference focused on the illness.

World AIDS Day, which is held on Dec. 1 annually, is an opportunity for people all over the world to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS, show their support for people living with HIV/AIDS and to commemorate those who have died from HIV/AIDS complications. It was the first global health day, held for the first time in 1988.

At NUMC, located on Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow, leaders organized several programs in honor of the international event. Officials said medical experts offered presentations focused on pediatric HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis and progress made in relation to stopping the spread of the virus.

“It was a year to focus on the significant successes achieved in the epidemic, highlighted in the theme of 20 years of decreasing HIV perinatal transmissions and healthy children born to women with HIV infection at NUMC,” a hospital press release stated.

The Wilson School/Rockville Centre Parent Teacher Association donated $200 to the hospital’s HIV program, in addition to making a banner for the event. It depicts “a community that bans together against HIV infection,” officials said.

NUMC staff members also hosted a World AIDS Day luncheon. Officials said this allowed hospital employees, Center for Positive HEALTH patients and their families and representatives from community agencies such as Circulo de la Hispanidad, the Leadership Training Institute and the EAC Network to interact and show appreciation for one another. Officials felt the luncheon and workshops helped raise HIV/AIDS awareness in the community.

Dr. Janice Verley currently serves as the HIV program director at NUMC. Globally, there are an estimated 34 million people who have HIV. Morethan 35 million people have died of HIV/AIDS complications since 1984, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.