HIV (or Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). The virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. HIV damages the immune system, which eventually becomes so weak that diseases and infections begin to attack the body. As these conditions worsen, a person is diagnosed with AIDS.
HIV/AIDS can be treated, but not cured. Not yet. Here are some statistics:
- Around 33 million people in the world live with HIV/AIDS, and the vast majority are unaware of their HIV status.
- About 12 million young people between 15 to 24 live with HIV/AIDS.
- 7,400 more people are infected with HIV every day! Almost half of them are under 25.
- Young women are about three times more vulnerable to HIV infection that their male peers.
- 2 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2008.
- 2.7 million people became infected with HIV in 2008.
- More than 97% of infected people live in low- and middle-income countries.
- Since HIV was first documented in 1981, more than 25 million people (men, women and children) have died of AIDS-related illnesses.
People infected with HIV/AIDS live in nearly every country in the world. In some countries, like Botswana and Swaziland, almost 40% of the population has HIV/AIDS.
The virus continues to spread. Epidemics have erupted in China, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, several Central Asian countries and the Baltic States.
HIV/AIDS is not just a health problem, but also a development problem. How? By spreading fast mostly to young people and working-age adults, HIV/AIDS affects the economy, society, family and schooling in a country, weakening the country as a whole.
When 8% or more of a population becomes infected with HIV, the growth of the economy slows down, according to a World Bank study. This is because the labor force gets reduced and demands on the already overwhelmed government, and economic and health care systems increase.
Poor countries are particularly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS because:
- They often don't have good resources to treat and help patients with HIV/AIDS.
- Their health care systems are most likely already overburdened (or aren't well developed).
- HIV/AIDS medication is often very expensive, not available everywhere in the world, and hard for poor countries to afford.
- Basic care and treatment for an HIV/AIDS patient can cost as much as 2–3 times per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in the poorest countries.
- Resources for educating the public about risky behavior (which often leads to HIV infections) are equally limited.
- People and societies in general are often reluctant to talk about risky behavior because it touches on societal taboos and often goes against norms.
A growing number of children are orphaned by AIDS. In Africa alone, 13 million children have lost one or both parents to it. The number of AIDS orphans could jump to 25 million by 2010, according to the United Nations. These orphans are less likely to attend school, or receive good nourishment or proper healthcare.
The World Bank and other international organizations recognize that the spread of HIV is a major global development problem.
The World Bank works with other international organizations, like UNAIDS, World Health Organization, and Street Kids International to:
- Create national health policies to treat and respond to HIV/AIDS.
- Expand care and treatment for those affected, and their families.
- Improve AIDS education, teacher training, and social programs.
- Protect children whose parents have died of AIDS.
- Fund international research for an AIDS vaccine through organizations such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).
In the last five years, the Bank has committed about US$2.1 billion through grants, loans, and credits to programs to fight HIV/AIDS. The Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program (MAP) for Africa has made available US$1.5 billion to 33 countries, including five sub-regional (multi-country) initiatives. Total Bank financing for HIV/AIDS since 1988 is around US$4 billion.
Talking about HIV/AIDS can be very difficult, but it can also be a matter of life and death. You and others in your community should feel comfortable talking about HIV/AIDS. Keeping quiet makes it even more difficult to prevent HIV from spreading. Many young people don't believe HIV is a threat to them, and many others don't know how to protect themselves from HIV.
We can all help reduce the spread of the disease and its impact on everyday life, and remove the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS.
1. First, Protect Yourself! This is your only life.
- Check out the MTV website on Sexual Health for more information.
- Learn more about youth and HIV/AIDS on the Youth Net Project website.
- Ask a health advisor your own questions about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases by visiting Go Ask Alice.
2. Teach Others To Protect Themselves. Many people still don't know how HIV is transmitted or that it is preventable.
- Teach others in your community, or search through the volunteer opportunities on the Idealist website clearinghouse.
- Learn about and donate to organizations in your own country that work with AIDS orphans by visiting FXB International.
- Talk to other young AIDS activists about HIV/AIDS issues on Taking it Global, or the Centre for the Study of AIDS forums.
3. Respect Those Who Are Infected. People infected by the HIV virus would never ask for it. Please learn to respect those with HIV/AIDS.
Visit the very informative and internationally active Advocates for Youth website for more information about what you, your family, teachers and peers can do to respect and protect others from the many stigmas attached to HIV and AIDS.
4. Get Involved. The world can beat HIV/AIDS, but we need concerned citizens like you to get involved. If you're ready to make a real difference in people's lives, check out the sites on this page for ideas on how you can help.
World AIDS Day is the international day of action on HIV and AIDS that takes place every year on December 1st. To find out how you can participate, visit the World AIDS Day website. For more information about how to get involved in the fight against AIDS, visit the Learn More links on this page.
source: YouThink by WorldBank
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