World AIDS Day observances under way

December 1, 1995
Web posted at: 10:40 a.m. EST (1540 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The 8th annual World AIDS Day is being observed Friday by more than 70,000 organizations in 190 countries -- people from around the world joining together to raise awareness of the deadly disease.

Among the events scheduled:

• The largest gay and lesbian church in the world in Dallas, Texas, will hold a special service, featuring a chorus of people infected with HIV;

• Singers from the Metropolitan Opera will perform at the United Nations in New York;

• A U.N. panel will discuss ways to increase global understanding and awareness about the syndrome.

The attention appears desperately needed. World health experts say the epidemic continues to spread at an alarming rate. Worldwide, it is estimated that 13,000 people were infected with HIV every day this year. And it is expected that up to 80 million people will be infected within five years.

In the United States, more than 501,000 cases have been diagnosed and more than 311,000 people with AIDS have died.

Related Stories

• Rio's street kids pose AIDS education problem
• New AIDS prevention ads focus on teens

Related Sites

• Centers for Disease Control home page
• Family Research Council
• United Methodist-Sponsored AIDS Home Pages and links
• CDC Aids Clearinghouse
• MedWeb Aids and HIV

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