Nov. 25, 1997 Contact Maureen Shine (541) 346-3145 Source: Joanne Allyson Frank (541) 346-2728 director, health education services, UO Health Center EUGENE--World AIDS Day will be commemorated on Monday, Dec. 1, at the University of Oregon with a host of special events designed to draw attention to the magnitude of this deadly pandemic and to help strengthen the efforts to combat it. This year's World AIDS Day theme is, "Give Children Hope in a World with AIDS." The day's events will emphasize that no one is immune from AIDS and the HIV virus, and action and sound policies are needed to prevent HIV transmission and to address the epidemic's impact on children, their families and their communities. As of December 1996, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS estimated that 22.6 million men, women and children worldwide were living with HIV/AIDS and that more than 6.4 million people died as a result of the disease. The World Health Organization projects that by the year 2000, the cumulative total of HIV cases in men, women and children will reach to 30-40 million. Data indicates that the majority of new adult HIV infections is found in the 15- to 24-year age group. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 581,429 cases of AIDS as of Dec. 31, 1996. The UO will pay tribute to World AIDS Day with a variety of events including an informational table in the Erb Memorial Union, 1222 E. 13th Ave., at which tee shirts, red ribbons, free condoms, community resources and refreshments will be available. In addition, a noon-hour "Celebrate Life" ceremony featuring the UO gospel choir will be held to celebrate the lives of those living with AIDS and to remember those who died from the disease. The event takes place inside the UO Museum of Art, 1430 Johnson Lane. The UO World Aids Day events are sponsored by the University Health Center and its health education services and the UO Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Alliance. -30- #P-4033/Local