Public Employee Press

DC 37 marks AIDS Day

Once again, on Dec. 1, visitors to DC 37’s Barclay Street headquarters were greeted by a contingent of activists with condoms, pamphlets, stickers, two signed quilts and the red ribbons that people wear to show awareness and concern about HIV and AIDS.

DC 37 Women’s Committee Chair and Local 957 President Walthene Primus, LAGIC Chair and Local 436 President Judith Arroyo, Arlene Tuff of the DC 37 Retirees Association and others from locals and the staff participated in the daylong commemoration of World AIDS Day.

The global observation celebrates life and increases awareness about the AIDS crisis as the number of people living with HIV continues to rise. Worldwide, 33 million people are living with HIV. In the United States, about 1.1 million people are living with HIV, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control, including more than 100,000 New Yorkers. About 1 in 5 are unaware of their infection and may be unknowingly transmitting the virus to others.

World AIDS Day aims to expand the reach of effective prevention efforts to stop the spread of HIV.