HIV/AIDS

Cause Overview

HIV/AIDS is the deadliest disease in the world today. It has claimed more than 25 million lives, and globally an estimated 40 million individuals are living with HIV. Every day, nearly 12,000 people become infected with HIV while another 8,000 die of the disease. Most of those who have died of AIDS and most living with HIV come from low- and middle-income countries, with the highest impact in sub-Saharan Africa. The distribution of risk and impact of HIV/AIDS is uneven in every way, and the disease continues to be driven by factors of vulnerability to infection, illness, and social stigma, such as gender, sexuality, race, class, age, substance use and violence.

There is now the foundation of a multi-sector response to this global crisis. National governments, multi-lateral organizations such as UNAIDS, and many nonprofit organizations work to address the consequences of the disease, reduce infections, and eventually end AIDS. The scope of the work being done by nonprofits runs the gamut from provision of care and social services and creation of prevention campaigns and interventions to research into an eventual safe, effective and accessible vaccine. Greater resources, vision and commitment will be needed for many years to address and finally eliminate the greatest public health threat facing the world today.

Source: International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
Image Source: International AIDS Vaccine Initiative