Commissioner's update for offenders and their families: December 2, 2024
December 1 marked World AIDS Day. The first World AIDS Day took place in 1988 with three goals:
- Bring attention to a worldwide epidemic that was getting worse
- Prevent the global spread of HIV (HIV is the virus that causes AIDS)
- Improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS
Today, HIV is no longer a fatal diagnosis. It is a manageable, chronic illness. Most people living with HIV do not develop AIDS because treatment like antiviral therapy is so successful. It suppresses the virus in a person’s blood so much that it doesn’t even show up in standard tests. If HIV is undetectable in a person, that means it cannot be transmitted or passed to another person.
CSC plays an important role in helping you learn the facts, reduce your risk, get tested, and reduce HIV-related stigma. If you have any questions or concerns about HIV/AIDS, please contact a member of your Health Services team.
International Volunteer Day is on December 5. Volunteers, advisory committee members and community supports dedicate their time to support you. From helping you learn new skills to helping you stay connected with the community, volunteers are an additional support network that you have access to.
If you are interested in learning more about working with volunteers, talk to a social program officer or someone from your case management team.
"Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." - Gandhi