HIV and AIDS
There were over 7,000 new HIV infections a day in 2009 and about 97% are in low and middle income countries. About 1,000 are children under 15 years of age.
30 million
Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 60 million people have been infected with HIV and nearly 30 million people have died of HIV-related causes. The impact is staggering. According to the World Health Organisation, AIDS is the leading cause of death globally in women of reproductive age. A recent report by the Joint United Nations programme on HIV and AIDS stated that AIDS has become the leading cause of death among infants and young children in much of sub-Saharan Africa.
To be clear
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. As the virus multiplies, it attacks the body’s immune system, destroying its ability to fight off illness.
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.
Impact of extreme poverty
The spread and impact of HIV and AIDS is likely to continue to threaten efforts to reduce poverty over the next decade at least. There are two new HIV infections for every one person starting HIV treatment. The AIDS pandemic is still outpacing the global response and the impact is greatest in poorest countries where life expectancy is often decreasing and under-five mortality is increasing.
HIV and AIDS charity
Concern works directly with people infected with – and affected by – HIV and AIDS in the world’s poorest countries. Our aim is to reduce HIV incidence and to minimise the impact of HIV and AIDS among people living in extreme poverty. In 2009, we worked on:
- Reducing and preventing HIV-related stigma in 20 countries
- Providing care and treatment in eight countries
- Improving nutrition and livelihoods in 14 countries
- Raising awareness and increasing education on HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment
- Supporting social and behaviour change interventions
- Lobbying, advocacy, and human rights initiatives
- Responding to HIV and AIDS in emergencies
During 2009, our HIV and AIDS programme reached 417,260 people directly, and 1,164,413 people indirectly. We were able to help this many people because we:
- Prioritise our HIV and AIDS response across all our work
- Implement HIV and AIDS specific programmes
- Integrate HIV and AIDS specific activities across our other programmes
Making progress
A new report by the Joint United Nations programme on HIV and AIDS shows that the AIDS pandemic is beginning to change course. The number of people newly infected with HIV is declining and AIDS-related deaths are decreasing. But there are 10 million people still in need of treatment who do not have access to it. We need to continue to make progress in this area and make treatment available to all.
Our work in action
Concern believes that the voices of people living with HIV need to be heard. That’s why we listen to those affected, and actively engage with their communities. An example of this is Charles Ngandu. Read his story
Concern’s Michael Hanly visited Angola and there he saw our HIV and AIDS programme firsthand. Watch his video diary.
In depth
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