Tuesday marks World AIDS Day and experts in the field have turned their attention to a lofty goal of ending the epidemic by 2030.

Here are three facts about the state of HIV/AIDS nationally, and how Canada can play a role in eradicating the deadly virus worldwide.

One-fourth of HIV-positive Canadians don't know their status

Of the nearly 37 million people who are HIV positive worldwide, an estimated 75,000 are in Canada.

Dr. Adrienne Chan, a leading Canadian HIV/AIDS expert, says injection drug users, the homeless and aboriginal Canadians are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS.

Chan told CTV's Canada AM that an estimated 20 per cent of injection drug users in Vancouver's downtown eastside are HIV-positive, while Canada-wide, an estimated 25 per cent of people who are living with the HIV virus are not aware of it.

To end AIDS globally, Canada must double its resources

The United Nations has set a goal to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. In order to reach that goal, an interim "90-90-90" goal has been set for 2020, which means having 90 per cent of people who are HIV-positive to become aware of their status by getting  tested, having 90 per cent of those people on a treatment plan, and 90 per cent HIV-positive individuals to have their viral load supressed.

"In order to do that, we need to basically double the amount that Canada, and other resource-rich settings, are contributing to the global response," Chan said.

Lessons to be learned from high-prevalence settings

Chan said one of the barriers to seeking HIV treatment is accessing testing, despite the associated stigma and discrimination that create barriers to care.

Working with Dignitas International, a Canadian-based group dedicated to improving HIV treatment in developing countries, Chan said there are lessons Canada can learn from high-prevalence HIV/AIDS settings.

She said the group has rolled out self-testingin Malawi, which is something Canada can adopt to help diagnose more people living with HIV.