Since 1988, December the 1st marks the World AIDS Day. On this day people unite in the efforts to organize the activities aimed at eliminating the pandemic disease that has become common in all the regions of the world.

Unfortunately, Ukraine is notorious for being most severely affected by HIV/AIDS in the Eastern Europe. Today we have officially reported 49,000 HIV-positive people. It is the official information registered at the Ukrainian Center for HIV AIDS Healthcare Foundation. The international experts believe that there are more HIV - positive people among us.

This problem affects all of us! Therefore the students of Sociology and Psychology Department at USPU held the "Stop AIDS" campaign. Creating a live red ribbon which is a symbol of combating the disease they showed their concern about this disaster, thousands of HIV - infected and AIDS patients.

The Department organized a lecture for the first and second year students dedicated to the World AIDS Day and tolerant attitude towards the HIV-positive. The lectures were introduced by the representatives of the specialized "Clinics friendly to youth" Unit. Students watched the films on the topic "What is HIV and AIDS", asked questions and received satisfactory answers from Natalia Hrychko, the Coordinator of "Clinics friendly to youth", Vita Ovcharuk, the psychologist and Anna Procenko, the psychologist of the "chamber of hope". The guests shared their own experiences about those situations they had witnessed. The statistics of the HIV and AIDS infected in Ukraine, Cherkassy region and Uman were mentioned.

What should I do to protect myself and the others from HIV infection? First and foremost: maintain a healthy lifestyle. Keep in mind that the procedures such as making tattoos, piercing ears, or undergoing acupuncture may pose danger. The same applies to cosmetology equipment. One can get HIV infection due to the careless attitude of the medical staff as well.

HIV is a social as well as a medical problem. The effectiveness of preventive measures depends on many social, political, legal, economic, psychological factors and the healthcare system.

During the event the students of the Sociology and Psychology Department at USPU have realized once again that AIDS causes the death of millions of adults in their young years. It leads to ruination and poverty in families, weakens the workforce potential, turns millions of children into orphans and threatens the unity of the social and economic sectors of society and the political stability of nations.

Prevention of HIV/AIDS among the young people is one of the highest priorities. Students of the Department expressed their attitude to "plague the 21st century" by combining the mutually created posters that encourage not to be indifferent to the struggle for a healthy nation. Only the mutual efforts are helpful to overcome the global catastrophe of humanity. Everyone should realize the danger posed by AIDS and do everything possible to protect oneself and the loved ones from this infection because AIDS can come in almost every home, every family. Healthy lifestyle and clarity in the relationship are the most important methods of AIDS prevention.