Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Aid / Disasters
Article Date: 27 Nov 2011 - 11:00 PST
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Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, says that this coming AIDS day, December 1st, will be unique in that health care professionals, health authorities and scientists may be able to say with confidence that the end of AIDS really is in sight. Collective international actions have resulted in solid achievements in the fight against AIDS. Despite the global economic crisis which started three years ago, and scarce resources in comparison to what would be realistically needed in the AIDS campaign, millions of of lives have still been saved - results for HIV treatment, prevention and accessibility to medical care have been impressive, Sidibé explained.
Sidibé has thanked world leaders for their pledges; promises he describes as "bold, tangible and realistic." It is crucial that these pledges are delivered in every single nation, every community, and to every individual who needs help.
At last, Sidibé added, world leaders have joined virtually unanimously to strive for a world where no mother dies of AIDS and no child is born with HIV.
In a letter, Sidibé wrote:
"The gulf between treatment and prevention has ended.
Treatment is prevention."
AIDS has come out of isolation and is now part of integrated and holistic health services, Sidibé explained - the gulf between health and AIDS is now much smaller. We are now well on the way for "people-centered health delivery systems"; systems that value, restore and respect human dignity.
With smart investments, making the most of scientific breakthroughs, and respecting human rights, the fight against AIDS is a clear and feasible one, Sidibé said.
Sidibé explained:
"It is why world leaders must fully fund the AIDS response. The global investment target of US$ 22-24 billion is a shared responsibility of all countries, donors and others. Only together can we secure the future and provide greater and long-term dividends.According to UNAIDS, the numbers of new HIV infections and deaths caused by AIDS have dropped to their lowest levels since 1997 (the peak). Since 2005, the total number of people dying annually from AIDS related illnesses has fallen 21%.. . . . on this World AIDS Day, I call upon leaders, communities, parents, people living with HIV and young people to look forward and work towards a world with Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS-related deaths."
Sidibé said:
"Even in a very difficult financial crisis, countries are delivering results in the AIDS response. We have seen a massive scale up in access to HIV treatment which has had a dramatic effect on the lives of people everywhere."
WHO (World Health Organization) informs that 6.6 million of the 14.2 million (estimated) individuals from developing countries who are eligible for treatment in 2010 had access to lifesaving antiretroviral therapy - 1.35 million more people than in 2009.
By the end of 2010: Between 31.6 and 35.2 million individuals were living with HIV globallyBetween 2.4 and 2.9 million new HIV infections were reported in that yearThere were between 1.6 and 1.9 million died of an AIDS-related illness by the end of that year
Number of people living with HIV by country (estimate). Source: UNAIDS
AIDS
The acronym AIDS stands for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. Acquired - simply means it is not a hereditary disease, it develops after birth. In this case, from contact with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).Immunodeficiency - this means the disease weakens the patient's immune system.Syndrome - a collection of signs and symptoms that characterize or indicate a disease or condition.AIDS needs to be diagnosed by a doctor, using specific laboratory or clinical standards.
HIV
HIV stands for (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) - the virus that causes AIDS. HIV can be passed from human-to-human via: Infected bloodInfected semenVaginal secretionsComing into contact with an infected person's broken skin or mucous membraneFrom an infected pregnant mother to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth or breastmilk.Some people with HIV infection will eventually develop AIDS.
Put simply: HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
MLA
9 Dec. 2011.
Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.
posted by Steve Jones on 27 Nov 2011 at 2:18 pm
The CDC is no closer to solvinbg the HIV/AIDS delema that it was 20 years and is purpertraiting a scam. Just look at the actual facts, not the spun up numbers that you see in the media. Now that the pharmaceutical had gotten rich beyond imagination, this this steamroller keeps rolling. Drugs have killed more people then thousand times over that any single phantom virus ever could.
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