Give a Day is a movement of Canadians who are responding to the crisis of AIDS in Africa by giving a day’s pay on World AIDS Day, December 1.

While strides are being made to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS, it continues to be one of the world’s leading causes of death. The following facts from UNAIDS make it clear why it is important to give a day:

• There are currently 34 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide (UNAIDS)
• AIDS is the number one cause of death globally for women of childbearing age (UNAIDS)
• Of the 16.6 million children who have lost parents to AIDS, close to 90% live in sub-Saharan Africa (UN Secretary General)
• Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 91% of all children who need HIV treatment. In 2010, only 21% in the region were receiving it (WHO)
• In some sub-Saharan countries, there are as few as 2 physicians per 100,000 population. In Canada, this figure stands at 190 (WHO)

As each day passes, thousands die from an illness that is both preventable and treatable with the use of anti-retroviral medication.