“You must protect yourselves,” stresses Kaizer Chiefs captain Siphiwe Tshabalala on World Aids Day. “People must pass this message to everyone. The more people use protection and only practice safe sex, the less infections there will be.”

World Aids Day, designated on 1 December since 1988, is dedicated to raise awareness of the Aids pandemic caused by the spread of HIV-infection, and mourning those who have died of the disease.

Government and health officials, non-governmental organisations and individuals around the world observe the day, often with education on Aids prevention and control.

Aids has killed more than 36 million people worldwide, between 1981 and 2012, and an estimated 35.3 million people are living with HIV, making it one of the most important global public health issues in recorded history. Despite recent improved access to antiretroviral treatment in many regions of the world, the Aids epidemic claims an estimated two million lives each year, of which about 270 000 are children.

More than three million people in South Africa are currently on anti-retroviral treatment, while about 1 000 people are infected per day.

A report in 2007 from the United Nations estimated that 5 700 000 South Africans had HIV/Aids.

In 2010, an estimated 280 000 South Africans died from the effects of HIV/Aids.

“It’s a tragic how many young people are contracting HIV,” concludes Tshabalala. “Life is too short. Please be careful.”