What Is HIV?
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex (sex without a condom or HIV medicine to prevent or treat HIV), or through sharing injection drug equipment.
If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
What Is AIDS?
AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection that occurs when the body’s immune system is badly damaged because of the virus.
In the U.S., most people with HIV do not develop AIDS because taking HIV medicine as prescribed stops the progression of the disease.
A person with HIV is considered to have progressed to AIDS when:
the number of their CD4 cells falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood (200 cells/mm3). (In someone with a healthy immune system, CD4 counts are between 500 and 1,600 cells/mm3.) OR
they develop one or more opportunistic infections regardless of their CD4 count.
Without HIV medicine, people with AIDS typically survive about 3 years. Once someone has a dangerous opportunistic illness, life expectancy without treatment falls to about 1 year. HIV medicine can still help people at this stage of HIV infection, and it can even be lifesaving. But people who start HIV medicine soon after they get HIV experience more benefits—that’s why HIV testing is so important.
Causes
The virus is spread (transmitted) person-to-person through certain body fluids:
• Blood
• Semen and preseminal fluid
• Rectal fluids
• Vaginal fluids
• Breast milk
HIV can be spread if these fluids come in contact with:
• Mucous membranes (inside of the mouth, penis, vagina, rectum)
• Damaged tissue (tissue that has been cut or scraped)
• The blood stream by injection
HIV cannot be spread through sweat, saliva, or urine.
Symptoms
Symptoms related to acute HIV infection (when a person is first infected) can be similar to the flu or other viral illnesses. They include:
• Fever and muscle pains
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Night sweats
• Mouth sores, including yeast infection (thrush)
• Swollen lymph glands
• Diarrhea
OUR STRATEGIES FOR ENDING HIV/AIDS BY 2030
High-risk youth (13–24 years old), specifically LGBTQ+, Sex workers, and/or those involved in the juvenile justice system. HIV/AIDS awareness and Prevention measures (behaviour change, condoms distribution,
Fighting Drug and substance abuse which leads to risky sexual behaviour which exacerbates the spread of HIV/AIDS and STIs.
We believe in community involvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS to end AIDS by 2030. Together, we can end HIV/AIDS by 2030.
Strategies to end poverty- Economic empowerment, especially of the youth and women, leads to the reduction of poverty which, in turn, leads to the reduction in prostitution, spread of HIV infections, sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies, etc.
KEY FACTS
HIV remains a major global public health issue, having claimed 40.4 million [32.9–51.3 million] lives so far with ongoing transmission in all countries globally; with some countries reporting increasing trends in new infections when previously on the decline.
There were an estimated 39.0 million [33.1–45.7 million] people living with HIV at the end of 2022, two thirds of whom (25.6 million) are in the WHO African Region.
In 2022, 630 000 [480 000–880 000] people died from HIV-related causes and 1.3 million [1.0–1.7 million] people acquired HIV.
There is no cure for HIV infection. However, with access to effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care, including for opportunistic infections, HIV infection has become a manageable chronic health condition, enabling people living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives.
WHO, the Global Fund and UNAIDS all have global HIV strategies that are aligned with the SDG target 3.3 of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.
By 2025, 95% of all people living with HIV (PLHIV) should have a diagnosis, 95% of those should be taking lifesaving antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 95% of PLHIV on treatment should achieve a suppressed viral load for the benefit of the person’s health and for reducing onward HIV transmission. In 2022, these percentages were 86(%) [73–>98%], 89(%) 75–>98%] and 93(%) [79–>98%], respectively.
When considering all people living with HIV, 86% [73>–98%] knew their status, 76% [65–89%] were receiving antiretroviral therapy and 71% [60–83%] had suppressed viral loads.