World AIDS Day hopes to spread awareness about HIV.

Many places in the Tri-States are hosting events to raise awareness about the disease.

One of these places is Western Illinois University. Western's program included informational presentations and free HIV testing.

The Adams County Health Department hopes to spread awareness as well.

Karen Spring, Registered Nurse with the Adams County Health Department, says, "HIV is present. A lot of times people think that because there is medication that they don't have to worry about the disease any longer, but you do have to worry about the disease. It's still out there. It's still in our community, and they have to protect themselves against it."

The Adams County Health Department offers confidential HIV testing.

Click here to learn more about "New Hope for Stopping HIV" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.