World AIDS Day was celebrated in Fall River on December 1, 2016, beginning with a ceremony at Gromada Plaza in front of Government Center. About two dozen people gathered at noon to mark the 27th anniversary of the worldwide event and the 12th time that people have gathered to mark the day in Fall River. "On this World Wide AIDS Day, I would like to remind ourselves of the great work we have been able to accomplish in our city for the past twenty-five years and the work that we still have to continue for our future generations," stated Connie Rocha-Mimoso of Seven Hills Behavioral Health. "It looks like we're finally starting to see the light and win," stated Fall River Health and Human Services Director Henry Vaillancourt, M.D.. "We have treatments that are highly effective. . . For your friends or people you know, encourage them to get tested if they have any risk factors," he added. The event continued with resource tables in the atrium of Government Center. Click here for a ten-minute video of the noontime event. Click here for the Herald News photos. Click here to see photos from the 2015 event. For more information, contact the STEP Outreach Center at 508-235-1012.

(Top row) Fall River Mayor Jasiel F. Correia II is given an AIDS Awareness pin by event organizer Connie Rocha-Mimoso of Seven Hills Behavioral Health as Bob Hitt of SSTAR's Project Aware looks on and goes over the event agenda with Rocha-Mimoso. (Row two) Connie Rocha-Mimoso and Bob Hitt begin their remarks. (Row three) City Health and Human Services Director Dr. Henry Vaillancourt speaks following the Mayor's comments as the crowd, including Cynthia Gallant of Steppingstone and Leonor Luz of SSTAR, listens before the flag raising. (Bottom row) Shannon Roony and Samantha Morgan, left, look over information available on resource tables inside the Government Center atrium.