World AIDS Day was celebrated in Fall River on December 2, 2015, beginning with a ceremony at Gromada Plaza in front of Government Center. About two dozen people gathered at noon to mark the 26th anniversary of the worldwide event and the 11th time that people have gathered to mark the day in Fall River. According to Fall River Health and Human Services Director Henry Vaillancourt, M.D. there were 234 people living with HIV infection in Fall River as of January 2015. "The good news is that sixty percent [with HIV] are still living, and that number increases every year.," he stated. "Unfortunately, there are approximately 3,700 people in Massachusetts who are infected with HIV and do not know it," he added. Connie Rocha-Mimoso of Seven Hills Behavioral Health stated "I just want to acknowledge the agencies and thank them for their efforts not just today but on a daily basis." The event continued in the evening with a candlelight vigil from Government Center to the Cultural Center at Sociedade Cultural Acoriana. Click here for a 15-minute video of the noontime event. Click here for the Herald News article about the event. Click here to see photos from the 2014 event. For more information, contact the STEP Outreach Center at 508-235-1012.

(Top row, left and center) City Health and Human Services Director Dr. Henry Vaillancourt is greeted by event organizer Connie Rocha-Mimoso of Seven Hills Behavioral Health as Mayor Sam Sutter greets Kevin St. Germain and Russell Desbiens of the World AIDS Day Committee. (Middle row) Dr. Vaillancourt presents statistics on the numbers of people diagnosed with HIV infections in both Fall River and the Commonwealth before Mayor Sutter issues a proclamation designating AIDS Awareness Day in Fall River. (Bottom row) Mayor Sutter concludes his remarks and is escorted to a flagpole by Ms. Rocha-Mimoso where he hoists the final World AIDS flag.