Join Us in Raising Awareness for These Causes in December

11/25/2019

By Theo Smith, Communications Intern

Patient advocacy organizations work tirelessly to educate, promote, advocate, and raise awareness and funding for their causes. Awareness events give us the opportunity to rally around a common objective and show these organizations how much we appreciate their work. Here’s how you can help advance these groups’ missions and spread awareness.

World AIDS Day (Dec. 1)

World AIDS Day is on December 1 each year. This is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Almost 75 percent of people living with HIV report loneliness and isolation. The Rock the Ribbon campaign works to stand in solidarity with people living with HIV, raise awareness, challenge stigma, end loneliness and isolation, and insist peer support is available for anyone who needs it.

Ways to get involved:

  • Share the Rock the Ribbon campaign on social media.
  • Get your school, university, workplace, or community involved.

National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 1 – 7)

The flu isn’t just a cold and can result in serious health complications, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, and can lead to hospitalization. Flu can sometimes even lead to death. It is important that during flu season individuals are getting the influenza vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established National Influenza Vaccination Week in 2005 to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond.

Ways to get involved:

  • Read more about influenza and check out the CDC’s resources.
  • Attend the NHC’s and the National Minority Quality Forum’s Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity’s webinar on Dec. 6.
  • Share the 2019 NIVW digital toolkit on social media.

Check out the latest flu videos.

International Day of People with Disabilities (Dec. 3)

In 1992, the United Nations called for an international day of celebration for people living with disabilities to be held on December 3 each year. International Day of People with Disabilities is more than just a day-long celebration, it is a platform to create strategies which support the employment of people with disability and to assist them to reach their social and economic potential.

Ways to get involved:

  • Donate to IDPWD.
  • Order an International Day of People with Disabilities celebration kit.
  • Download graphics and share them on social media.