Thousands of red balloons were released in Emilio Ribas Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, ahead of World AIDS Day, on November 29, 2019. /VCG Photo

Luiz Carlos, director of the Emilio Ribas laboratory, told Reuters that the balloons are meant to raise public awareness. /VCG Photo

December 1 is observed as World AIDS Day. The annual commemoration first started by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988 as a day to unite the world in the fight against HIV and AIDS. /VCG Photo

According to WHO, there were approximately 37.9 million individuals living with HIV across the world at the end of 2018. /VCG Photo