Facts about HIV/AIDS

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which progresses into AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a deadly condition that gradually decreases the effectiveness of the immune system and increases the susceptibility of the infected individual to opportunistic tumors and infections. It is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the blood stream with a bodily fluid containing HIV such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. HIV/AIDS is a pandemic and its awareness needs to be raised in every country in the world especially in the continent of Africa.


According to the World Health Organization, 34.3 million people in the world have the HIV/AIDS virus; 24.5 million of them are in sub-Sahara Africa. Nearly 19 million people have died from AIDS; 3.8 million of them are children under the age of 15. There were 5.4 million new HIV/AIDS cases in 1999, 4 million of them were in Africa; 2.8 million people died from the disease in 1999; 2.4 million of the cases were in Africa; 13.2 million children became orphans because of AIDS; 12.1 million of them were in sub-Saharan Africa. The life expectancy in Africa decreased from 59 years to 45 years from 2005 to 2010 and in Zimbabwe from 61 years to 33 years. More than 500,000 babies were infected in 1999 by their mothers and most of them were in Africa. South Africa is the number 1 country infected with HIV/AIDS, followed by Nigeria and India. The deaths in Africa caused by the disease has retarded the economic growth and destroyed the human capital in the continent (WHO, 2010).


I truly believe that education is the key when it comes to eradicating HIV/AIDS because although the mortality and morbidity rates of HIV infection can be reduced significantly by the use of antiretroviral medication, they are expensive and routine access to the drugs are not available in all countries. If individuals can be educated on ways to prevent the infection, that would be the key in controlling the HIV/AIDS pandemic. People can be taught different methods of safe sex and the importance of utilizing sterilized needles. One of my main objectives for “Project Women Education” is to educate women on how to practice abstinence and to empower them in convincing their partners to utilize condoms and practice safe sex.


Bibliography
World Health Organization (WHO). (2010). HIV/AIDS. Retrieved on April 24, 2010 from http://www.who.int/hiv/en/