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HIV / AIDS
What is HIV/AIDS?
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a viral infection which targets and weakens the human immune system, allowing the body to be more susceptible to secondary infections and diseases which a healthy individual would be able to fight off.
The most advanced stage of HIV is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is characterised by the development of infections, certain cancers and other severe clinical manifestations.
There still remains no vaccine and no cure for HIV.
Source: WHO and hivaware.org.uk
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV can be transmitted via body fluids from an infected person, primarily through unprotected sex with a HIV infected partner, mother to child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth and breast-feeding, the sharing of unsterile needles and transfusions with infected blood products.
Antiretroviral therapy
Standard antiretroviral therapy (ART) consists of the combination of at least three antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to maximally suppress the HIV virus and stop the progression of HIV disease. Huge reductions have been seen in rates of death and suffering when use is made of a potent antiretroviral regimen, particularly in early stages of the disease.
34 million
Estimated number of people living with HIV in 2010 - of which 30 million were living in low and middle income countries.
15 million
The estimated number of people who were in need of antiretroviral therapy in 2010.
Over 90%
The number of people with HIV estimated to be infected through sexual contact.
Source: WorldAIDSday.org and WHO
1982: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is defined for the first time.
1983: Dr. Luc Montagnier in France isolates lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV), later to become known as human immunodeficiency virus or HIV.
A heterosexual AIDS epidemic is revealed in Central Africa.
1984: Dr. Robert Gallo in the U.S. identifies HIV as the cause of AIDS
1985: At least one case of HIV has been reported in each region of the world.
1987: World Health Organisation (WHO) establishes the Special Program on AIDS.
AIDS becomes the first disease ever debated on the floor of the United Nations General Assembly.
1988: WHO declared 1 December World AIDS day.
1991: The red ribbon becomes an international symbol of AIDS awareness.
1994: Scientists develop the first treatment regimen to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission.
1995: HIV outbreak in Eastern Europe among injecting drug users.
1996: The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, called UNAIDS, becomes operational.
UNAIDS Founding director was Professor Peter Piot M.D Phd.
UNAIDS is the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, is an innovative United Nations partnership that leads and inspires the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 60 million people have been infected with HIV and nearly 30 million people have died of HIV-related cause.
1999: The UN launches the International Partnership against AIDS in Africa to bring together key stakeholders to mount an intensified response to the epidemic.
2000: The Millennium Development Goals are announced as part of the Millennium Declaration and include reversing the spread of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as one of eight key goals.
2001: The first UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS unanimously adopts the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, which declares AIDS a global catastrophe and calls for worldwide commitment to fight AIDS.
2003: US President George Bush announces the US$15 billion President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief during the State of the Union Address.
2005: At the G8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, leaders pledge to come as close as possible to universal access to antiretroviral treatment worldwide by 2010. By the end of 2005 1.3 million people in low and middle-income countries are receiving access to antiretroviral therapy.
2009: 5.2 million people in low- and middle-income countries had access to antiretroviral treatment, up from 700 000 in 2004.
World AIDS Day is held on 1st December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died.
World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988.
In 1991, a decade after AIDS was defined for the first time, a group of 12 artists gathered to discuss a new project for Visual Aids; a New York arts organisation that raises awareness of HIV. They were photographers, painters, film makers and costume designers, and they sat around in the shared gallery space in New York's East Village.
After a short brainstorm they had come up with a simple idea that later became one of the most recognised symbols of the decade - the red ribbon, worn to signify awareness and support for people living with HIV.
