BUILDINGS are being lit up in red tonight to raise awareness of World AIDS day.
Darlington Borough Council wants to reduce stigma and discrimination against those living with HIV.
The campaign is run annually by the National AIDS Trust.
Read more: Hartlepool Corrie star joins sexual and mental health charity
Councillor Nicholson, cabinet member for health and housing, said: “40 years on from the first reported case, it is shocking to see that there is still so much stigma around HIV in the UK.
“With the developing research into a vaccine and effective treatments already available that allow people with HIV to live a long and healthy life, the virus is no longer the death sentence that it once was – yet many people still see it that way.
“By supporting the Rock the Ribbon campaign and lighting the town red, we are raising awareness of World AIDS Day and its mission to provide free teaching materials on HIV and ensure everyone living with HIV has access to treatment and support services.”
The town clock and the Hippodrome are among the buildings to be lit up today.
Council staff have also been wearing red ribbons.
There are an estimated 105,200 people in the UK live with HIV, with 98 per cent of those people on an effective treatment and 97 per cent on an effective treatment that means they cannot pass on the virus.
Yet a survey by the National AIDs Trust has found that there is still severe misunderstanding about HIV – with only 16 per cent of respondents knowing that if someone is on effective treatment, they can’t pass on HIV and can expect to live a long and healthy life.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated Darlington Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here