aids dayOfficials gathered downtown on Tuesday to mark the end of AIDS awareness week with Tuesday being World AIDS Day.

One of the events involved staff with the AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area tying Red Scarves throughout the downtown.

Dennis Chippa is HIV Education Coordinator and he was asked about the significance of the Red Scarves.

He says they symbolize awareness of the fight that their clients go through every day.

Chippa says their numbers are consistent with previous years but exact figures are hard to get on how many people are getting tested for HIV because of the stigma with HIV and AIDS. 

He says that isn’t changing.

Chippa says the groups that were being stigmatized a quarter of a century ago are still being stigmatized today, whether it’s because of sexual choices or drug use.

Meantime, he says they are excited that their clients are living longer.