HIV and AIDS

HIV and AIDS has become the single most serious disease in the world. The statistics are overwhelming: over 40 million people around the world are now living with HIV. Among these, more than 95% live in developing countries.

What is HIV?

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. A person can be infected with HIV for many years and seem perfectly healthy. But as the virus multiplies, it attacks the body’s immune system, destroying its ability to fight off illness.

What is AIDS?

AIDS is a late stage of infection caused by the HIV virus. As HIV weakens a person’s immune system, the body is no longer able to fight off illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and tumours – these are signs that AIDS is appearing.

Devastating impact

As well as the obvious impact on global health, HIV is affecting education systems in developing countries. Many children are forced to drop out of school because they are affected by HIV. Schools are losing teachers at an alarming rate because of the virus.

Rural families

HIV and AIDS has been particularly devastating for people who depend on farming to make a living. Many have been forced to sell their land or go without food because they cannot care for their farms.

Economy

The majority of people infected with HIV and AIDS are between 15 and 45 years old – the most economically-productive age group. The virus has forced many people to leave their jobs, causing economic hardship for both individuals and industries.

Meeting the challenge

Concern has over 20 years of experience in combating HIV and AIDS. Today, we are implementing 24 HIV and AIDS programmes in 15 countries.

Our work with HIV aims to contribute to the International Development Target. This seeks to achieve a 25% reduction in HIV infection rates among 15 to 24 year olds by 2015.

Our response

Concern is responding in the following ways:

• Promoting education and awareness to slow the spread of AIDS
• Advocating for improved treatment and rights of AIDS victims 
• Encouraging governments and donors to develop national welfare programmes for people who have been affected