This is AIDS Awareness Week with local events lined up for World AIDS Day on Thursday, Dec. 1.
The AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area (ACNBA) is holding a vigil at 10 am at the North Bay Museum.
Donna Kalinowski, office administrator with the committee, says along with Mayor Peter Chirico reading a World AIDS Day proclamation, they will be tying red scarves, which are free for the taking, in various places.
“We will be celebrating the Red Scarf Project where we put scarves out around town that are knitted by our volunteers,” Kalinowski says. “We are also celebrating A Day Without Art which is a way to merge the arts community with awareness about HIV and recognizing those that we’ve lost in that community.”
Local art galleries and tattoo studios will have displays set up.
Kalinowski says all of the events are about recognizing those lost and raising awareness.
“Still today approximately six Canadians are infected by HIV every day and around 14% still do not know their status,” she says. “We have Point of Care testing now that’s available and fast with results in minutes and treatment options are now highly effective at controlling the illness.”
Kalinowski says they have walk-in appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
For more information contact the AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area or visit their website.
