On this World AIDS Day public health officials are reminding everyone that while tremendous progress has been made, the fight against HIV/AIDS is far from over.

More people are getting life-saving treatment for the disease and new AIDS infections are down 17 percent over the last eight years, according to UNAIDS.

Nevertheless, there is still no vaccine and the epidemic continues to rage across the globe. Even here in the states, more than 1 million people are infected by the virus and 1 in 5 of them don't know it, according to the CDC. In Maryland, an estimated 6,000 to 9,000 people have HIV and aren't aware of it, according to the state health department.

And so, the mantra among health officials: Get tested.

Locally, health departments across the state are offering free testing and other events to mark the occasion. In Baltimore, a city that has been hit hard by AIDS, a candlelight vigil is planned for 7 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church. For more information and for testing sites see the health department website: www.baltimorehealth.org/worldaidsday. Anne Arundel County is offering free testing from noon to 6 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Annapolis. For more information on other events, visit the state health department site for details.

Said Maryland Health Secretary John M. Colmers: “By working together we can ensure that everyone knows their HIV status and routinely tests for HIV.  Knowledge is power.”