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Volunteers put the finishing touches on the first-ever giant red ribbon on San Francisco's Twin Peaks to mark the 30th year of AIDS. San Francisco AIDS Foundation conceived the ribbon to remember those lost to the disease, and to remind the entire world that HIV/AIDS is still spreading. (PRNewsFoto/San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Alex Bernardin) |
SAN FRANCISCO,
May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
For the first time ever,
a massive red ribbon appears on the side of
Twin Peaks to mark the 30th anniversary of the first reported cases of AIDS in
the United States. Organized by San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the ribbon was installed by more than 100 community volunteers to honor
San Francisco's legacy in fighting HIV/AIDS and to raise awareness of the importance of knowing your HIV status and getting proper care.
"This ribbon is a bold reminder to the entire world that HIV/AIDS is still an issue that urgently needs our attention," said San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO
Neil Giuliano. "We have made tremendous progress in the fight against the disease over the past 30 years, but our work is not done. We believe even one new infection is one too many, and we will continue to give people the information and services they need to remain healthy and take care of the people they love."
Every day in
San Francisco, two more people are newly infected with HIV. More than 56,000 people are infected every year nationwide. Alarmingly, rates of new HIV infections are rising among gay and bisexual men nationwide, the only risk group for which this is the case. San Francisco AIDS Foundation conceived the red ribbon to reinforce its commitment to improving the health of the community through increased HIV testing and prevention efforts, and vital services that ensure HIV-positive people can access treatment and receive high-quality care.