The "World AIDS Day Awareness" panel was held at Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) to draw attention to AIDS, which threatens humanity.

OMU Atatürk Congress and Culture Center (AKM) hosted the panel titled "Sex Life and Health" with the slogan "Ask, Listen, Learn: Live Healthily," organized on the occasion of "1 December World AIDS Day".

The panel was moderated by OMU Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Midwifery faculty member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serap Topatan. OMU Faculty of Medicine Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Prof. Dr. Davut Güven, Sexual Health Institute Association (CISED) Samsun Branch President and Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Operator Doctor Gamze Keleş and CİSED Ordu Branch President and Urology Specialist Operator Doctor Osman Çelik attended as speakers.

The panel was followed by OMU Faculty of Health Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi, Deputy Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehtap Ünlü Söğüt, Midwifery Department Head Prof. Dr. Zeliha Koç, faculty academics, and students.

At the beginning of the program, all participants were presented with a red ribbon, which is the symbol of awareness of "1 December World AIDS Day", which has been celebrated all over the world since 1988.

Vice Dean Ünlü "Different activities related to AIDS ensure that the public is enlightened and awareness is increased in this direction."

Deputy Dean Söğüt, who took the floor in the opening speech, emphasized that different activities about AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), which is a significant public health problem, ensure that the public is enlightened and awareness is increased in this direction. She also highlighted the importance of the events such as this.

Expressing her satisfaction for organizing the event and being together, Deputy Dean Ünlü thanked the honorary chairs of the panel, Dean Dr. Terzi, Head of Midwifery Department Dr. Koç and Dr. Cem Keçe, and academics and guest panelists in the organizing committee. She said, "Today, we will focus on an issue that we all avoid discussing and contains many errors because we have not been talking about it. It is crucial for us, public health and our profession, to get education and raise awareness about AIDS. In this sense, I would like to express my gratitude for an eye-opening and productive session within the scope of 1 December World AIDS Day."

After the opening speech, Department of Music Education students displayed their skills with a concert under the direction of OMU Education Faculty Fine Arts Education Department of Music Education member Prof. Dr. Yakup Alper Varış.

Moderator Topatan, who started the panel by sharing up-to-date data on AIDS in the world and our country, drew attention to the theme determined by UNAIDS (The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS) every December within the scope of the fight against AIDS.

UNAIDS 2022 theme: Equalize

Topatan underlined the statement, "The goal of zero new contamination cannot be reached at a global level without ensuring equality for everyone in the fight against HIV and meeting the needs of the day by using methods supported by contemporary policies" within the scope of the Sustainable Development Goals in the UNAIDS 2022 declaration, and said that this year's theme is "Equalize." Topatan added that the concept of "equalize" in this theme means both providing the budget necessary for the fight against AIDS in low and middle-income countries, and knowing the number of HIV-positive individuals in the society through testing in countries such as our country, where people still cannot get an HIV test due to the fear of social stigma and labeling.

Then, in the panel where the speakers took the floor, the importance of disseminating national sexual health education programs and materials such as brochures and posters that increase awareness in society within the scope of the fight against AIDS in our country was emphasized. It was stated that people could have HIV tests and treatments without fear of being labeled.

OMU Faculty of Medicine faculty member Davut Güven talked on "AIDS with its Medical and Social Dimensions," CİSED Samsun Branch President Operator Doctor Gamze Keleş on "Sexual Life and Women's Health," and CİSED Ordu Branch Head Operator Doctor Osman Çelik on "Sexual Life and Men's Health."

In the last part of the interactive panel, which continued in a question-answer format, the opinions and suggestions of the participants regarding the event were received.