HIV and AIDS

Since the late 1970s, more than 23 million people have lost their lives to AIDS; by 2010, the cumulative toll is expected to rise to 45 million. While the HIV pandemic’s evolution has varied across regions, there is one common denominator: HIV is increasingly a disease of the young and most vulnerable, particularly girls. More than a third of all people living with HIV are under the age of 25, and almost two-thirds of them are women. AIDS has orphaned 14 million children, and left millions more extremely vulnerable. Almost 2,000 infants became HIV-positive every day last year either during pregnancy, birth, or through breastfeeding.

Sub-Saharan Africa has just over 10 percent of the world’s population but is home to more than 60 percent of all people living with HIV ---25.8 million. In 2005, an estimated 3.2 million people in the region became newly infected, while 2.4 million adults and children died of AIDS. HIV has now infected roughly 50 million Africans since the start of the epidemic, of whom more than 22 million have died. Eight African countries have more than 1 million persons living with HIV. The 21 countries with the world’s highest rates are all in Sub-Saharan Africa. Among 15-24 year-olds, 4.6% of women and 1.9% of men are already infected. (Source: UNAIDS)

NUJ Guidelines for reporting HIV [pdf] These guidelines for journalists and PR professionals give a thorough introduction to the nature of HIV (less information is provided on AIDS). The NUJ recommends finding out more information on the HIV epidemic in the particular country or region which is being reported on and in which the report will be read. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa the epidemic began mainly through heterosexual sex and HIV continues to be transmitted mainly heterosexually.

The majority of HIV infections occurring in the UK are among men who have sex with men (73% in 2005). But the majority of people living with HIV in the UK are heterosexual.This is because of the migration of people to the UK who were infected with HIV overseas, particularly in Africa (68% of heterosexual infections diagnosed in 2005 were acquired in Africa).

Although many international organisations continue to refer to the virus HIV and the syndrome AIDS together as HIV/AIDS, the NUJ guidelines emphasise the distinction between the two. The availability of drugs has reduced the prevalence of AIDS among HIV-positive people more in the West than in developing countries.

Evolution of AIDS by continent, 1991-2000

Global Burden [ppt] this presentation is a global summary of the HIV and AIDs pandemic at the end of 2005.

World Health Organisation Reports on global HIV/AIDS situation

Country-specific data: epidemiological fact sheets

Human Development Reports HIV/AIDS / National Reports

UNAIDS/WHO HIV/AIDS online database The UNAIDS/WHO Global HIV/AIDS Online Database collates the most recent country-specific data on the spread and impact of the virus, together with information on risk behaviours (e.g. casual sex and condom use). Health sector response information (eg. data on people receiving treatment and coverage of HIV counselling and testing) is also an essential part of this database

Coverage of selected services for HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support in low and middle income countries in 2003 Policy Project 2004 [pdf]

The WHO and UNAIDS launched an international initiative called the “3 by 5” target in which they wanted to provide anti-retroviral treatment to 3 million people in low and middle income countries by the end of 2005, it proved to be a major catalyst for mobilizing international support and action around the globe, access to antiretroviral treatment in developing countries has increased significantly from 400 000 in December 2003 to approximately 1 million in June 2005.

The Female AIDS Epidemic: 2005 STATISTICS Globally, HIV infection rates among women continue to rise disproportionately. In 2005, 17.5 million women are living with HIV – one million more than in 2003.
Most HIV-positive women live in sub-Saharan Africa, but the epidemic is affecting growing numbers of women in South and Southeast Asia (where almost 2 million women now have HIV) and in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The epidemic’s impact on women in sub-Saharan Africa remains disproportionate. Most of the women who die are at the prime of their productive life, depriving families and communities of food producers, teachers, mothers, and carers.

The International HIV/AIDS Alliance is an initiative of people, organisations and communities working towards a shared vision by supporting effective community responses to HIV and AIDS. We believe that those at the forefront of the HIV/AIDS response need to have the resources to take on the challenges that the epidemic presents.

Responding to HIV/AIDS in Agriculture & Related Activites [pdf] Natural Resource Policy Perspectives, ODI, March 2005

HIV/AIDS & Humanitarian Action [pdf] Humanitarian Policy Group, ODI, April 2004

AIDS, conflict and the media in Africa: Risks in reporting bad data badly [pdf], Emerging Themes in Epidemiology 2005 WorldWide Operations, 13 Dec 2005

World Leaders Chart Way Forward to Reverse AIDS Epidemic [pdf] 31 May 2006

Important progress seen in tackling AIDS, but epidemic continues to outpace response says new comprehensive global AIDS update, 30 May 2006 [pdf]

Irish Response
Irish Aid-HIV/AIDS

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern T.D., presented United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan with a report on Irish Aid’s response to the challenge of HIV/AIDS [pdf].

UNAIDS Executive Director praises PM Ahern and the Irish people for their leadership in the AIDS response [pdf]

HIV/AIDS is not just a health problem but a massive threat to global development. Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, T.D. on World Aids Day, 1st December 2004.

WHO and HIV/AIDS the World Health Organization (WHO) takes the lead within the UN system in the global health sector response to HIV/AIDS. The HIV/AIDS Department provides evidence-based, technical support to WHO Member States to help them scale up treatment, care and prevention services as well as drugs and diagnostics supply to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable response to HIV/AIDS.

Donor Responses

UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, brings together the efforts and resources of ten UN system organizations to the global AIDS response. Cosponsors include UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank. Based in Geneva, the UNAIDS secretariat works on the ground in more than 75 countries world wide.

UNDP works to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and reduce its impact, it helps countries put HIV/AIDS at the centre of national development and poverty reduction strategies; build national capacity to mobilize all levels of government and civil society for a coordinated and effective response to the epidemic; and protect the rights of people living with AIDS, women, and vulnerable populations.

UNICEF works closely with young people on preventing new HIV infections. UNICEF also works to prevent parent-to-child transmission of HIV and helps communities provide care, protection and support to children orphaned and made vulnerable by the disease. UNICEF’s Commitments: Fighting HIV/AIDS: Strategies for Success 2002-2005 [pdf]
World Bank HIV/AIDS The World Bank--in partnership with others-- is working to roll back the spread of this global epidemic. As the largest long-term investor in prevention and mitigation of HIV/AIDS in developing countries, the World Bank Group is working with its partners to:

• Prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS among vulnerable groups and in the general population;
• Promote countries’ health policies and multi-sectoral approaches (e.g. by working in education, social safety nets, transport and other vital areas);
• Expand basic care and treatment activities for those affected by HIV/AIDS and their families, as well as for children whose parents have died of AIDS and other vulnerable children.

The World Bank Global HIV/AIDS Programme of Action Report [pdf]

EU HIV/AIDS programme in developing countries

Eight European Union Policy Priorities A new commitment to the early delivery of new HIV Preventive Technologies.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was created to dramatically increase resources to fight three of the world’s most devastating diseases, and to direct those resources to areas of greatest need. As a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities, the Global Fund represents an innovative approach to international health financing.

Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative

Relevant Articles

Health research id21 is the free development research reporting service, providing UK-sourced research on health issues in developing countries.

She is HIV positive. She is your sister. African leaders met from 2-4 May 2006 in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, to review progress towards arresting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria