Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is caused by HIV (Human Immunedeficiency Virus).
It leads to "opportunistic" infections and certain cancers. There's no cure but a number of drugs do now slow or halt progressionMost of the 30 million HIV positive people live in Africa.
In the UK more than 70,000 are HIV positive (commoner in men and more acquired heterosexually than homosexually). In the Philippines estimates are between 3,500 - 12,000, almost certainly due to under-reporting, with a similar number acquired heterosexually as homosexually.
Mother-to-child transmission, infected blood, and injecting drug users are less common modes.
Good news is that global incidence is falling and access to treatment improving
But there's concern that the 16 million people who inject drugs worldwide have been neglected. They're at risk of HIV/AIDS, not helped by punitive drug laws and misplaced moral judgements. Vulnerable groups who inject drugs (including women, young people, and prisoners) need access to health and harm-reduction services. These include needle and syringe exchange programmes as well as anti-retroviral (HIV) drug treatment.
There is soon to be a UN meeting of world leaders in New York to decide on the future response to the AIDS pandemic. Millions of lives are at stake. It's immoral and inhumane to let people become infected with HIV or die - however acquired - when prevention is possible.
Originally Posted by imagine
