HIV_Fact_Sheet
2
HIV/AIDS HIV or Human Immuno- deficiency Virus is a viral infection that attacks a person’s immune system - weakening it over time. The virus is transmitted from person to person through the blood and sexual fluids of an infected person and through breast-feeding. HIV replicates itself within cells and subsequently damages them, making a person infected by HIV increasingly vulnerable to illness. At the point when they are said to have AIDS, people become seriously ill with one of a number of particularly severe illnesses such as TB. This can happen several years after initial infection with HIV. An estimated 39.5 million people worldwide are living with HIV Estimates by UNAIDS suggest that India has a greater number of people living with HIV (5.7 million) than any other nation in the world There were 4.3 million new infections in 2006 with 2.8 million (65%) of these occurring in sub-Saharan Africa AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognised in 1981, while the HIV virus has infected 65 million people over the same period Every 15 seconds a child loses their parents to HIV/AIDS. There are 15 million AIDS orphans across the world today HIV/AIDS has wiped out virtually a whole generation of skilled workers and teachers in some countries in Africa, bringing grave consequences for the social structure and fabric of life Unprotected sex is not the only way that HIV is transmitted. It can be passed on from mother to child during delivery and also through transfusion of contaminated blood Those infected with HIV are often rejected by their families fact sheet
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Information on HIV/AIDS and LEPRA Health in Action's approach to fighting this disease.
Transcript of HIV_Fact_Sheet
HIV/AIDSHIV or Human Immuno-deficiency Virus is a viralinfection that attacks aperson’s immune system -weakening it over time. Thevirus is transmitted fromperson to person through the blood and sexualfluids of an infected person and through breast-feeding.
HIV replicates itself within cells and subsequently damagesthem, making a person infectedby HIV increasingly vulnerable toillness. At the point when theyare said to have AIDS, peoplebecome seriously ill with one of a number of particularly severeillnesses such as TB. This canhappen several years after initial infection with HIV.
� An estimated 39.5 million people worldwide are living with HIV
� Estimates by UNAIDS suggest that India has a greater number of people living withHIV (5.7 million) than anyother nation in the world
� There were 4.3 million new infections in 2006 with 2.8 million (65%) of theseoccurring in sub-Saharan Africa
� AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognised in 1981, while the HIV virus has infected 65 million people over the same period
� Every 15 seconds a child loses their parents to HIV/AIDS. Thereare 15 million AIDS orphans across the world today
� HIV/AIDS has wiped out virtuallya whole generation of skilled workers and teachers in some countries in Africa, bringing grave consequences for the social structure and fabric of life
� Unprotected sex is not the only way that HIV is transmitted. It can be passed on from mother to child during delivery and alsothrough transfusion of contaminated blood
� Those infected with HIV are often rejected by their families
factsheet
6216 HIV Factsheet.qxp 22/6/07 16:34 Page 1
BUT THE TIME BETWEEN HIVINFECTION AND THE ONSETOF AIDS CAN BE PROLONGED!
Antiretroviral drugs can prolong aperson’s life for around 25 years.Without treatment, HIV usuallyprogresses to AIDS in about 10years, but in poor countries muchsooner. Millions of people cannotafford or are unable to accessmedication.
For antiretroviral treatment toremain effective, a combination of three or more drugs is needed.People have to take them everyday at the same time for the rest of their lives.
Despite antiretroviral drugs, there is still no cure for AIDS.
By supporting the work of LEPRAyou can help us in preventingthe spread of the disease.
LEPRA 28 MiddleboroughColchester CO1 1TG01206 216700www.lepra.org.ukRegistered Charity No. 213251
LEPRA
healthinaction
factsheet
HOW LEPRA HELPS PEOPLE WHO ARE HIVPOSITIVE
LEPRA’s HIV/AIDS programmes across the world include the following activities:
� Helping to ensure that HIV positive expectant mothers do not pass the virus to their child
� Administering treatment throughantiretroviral drug therapy
� Providing counselling and testing services to encourage people to come forward for diagnosis
� Providing families living with HIV/AIDS with advice on nutrition and safe sex practices
� Raising awareness in communities on preventing the spread of HIV
� Conducting health education programmes to help combat the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS
� Working with commercial sex workers to improve their health awareness and encourage condom usage
6216 HIV Factsheet.qxp 22/6/07 16:34 Page 2
