Dr. Gordon Senter, president of the Rowan AIDS Task Force, shrouds the fountain at Depot and East Innes streets Wednesday. Local works have been shrouded for A Day Without Art to increase awareness of artists who have died from AIDS and Rowan residents living with the disease. Today is World Aids Day.
World AIDS Day is held on Dec. 1 each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first global health day and the first one was held in 1988.
Globally an estimated 33.3 million people have HIV. More than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007 have died from the virus, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.
Today, many scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment, there are laws to protect people living with HIV and we understand more about the condition.
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for you to learn the facts about HIV. You can also show your support for people living with HIV on World AIDS Day by wearing a red ribbon, the international symbol of HIV awareness.
World AIDS Day is also a great opportunity to raise money  and show support for people living with HIV.