World AIDS Day 2024
World AIDS Day takes place every year on 1st December and will be held for the 36th time in 2024. Aim is to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic. It serves as a time to honor those who have passed, educate about the disease’s ongoing effects, and unite in the fight to end the harmful stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.
The World AIDS Conference theme was “Putting people first”. The World AIDS Conference was held for the 25th time in July 2024.
World AIDS Day
1st December 2024
The “Putting people first” theme focuses on developing solutions from the perspective of those most impacted. To end the HIV pandemic as a threat to public health and individual well-being, it is crucial for research, healthcare, activism, and policy sectors to agree on core principles. One of these essential principles is prioritizing people, and we urge all stakeholders in the HIV response to embrace and align with this approach.
On World AIDS Day let’s put people first by:
- Individualization of Health Services: Provide care that is customized to meet the varied needs of individuals, taking into account factors such as gender, age, and socioeconomic background. This approach is commonly known as differentiated service delivery or person-centered care.
- Advancing Research: Actively involving communities in research accelerates advancements and strengthens key populations. Approaches such as community-based participatory research and prioritizing the involvement of women living with HIV are essential in this process.
Facts about HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) / AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)
What is HIV / AIDS?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) weakens the immune system by attacking white blood cells, leading to increased vulnerability to illnesses such as tuberculosis, infections, and certain cancers. The most advanced stage of HIV infection is known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
HIV is transmitted through the body fluids of an infected person, including blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal fluids. It cannot be spread through casual contact like kissing, hugging, or sharing food. Mother-to-child transmission is also possible.AIDS is caused by the HI virus and often takes several years to break out.
Symptomps
The symptoms of HIV vary depending on the stage of infection. During the initial months after infection, HIV can spread more easily, though many individuals remain unaware of their status until later stages.
In the early weeks, some people may not exhibit any symptoms, while others may experience flu-like symptoms such as: Fever, Headache, Rash, Sore throat
As the infection progresses, the immune system becomes increasingly compromised, leading to additional symptoms such as: Swollen lymph nodes, Weight loss, Fever, Diarrhea, Cough
Without treatment, individuals with HIV may develop more serious conditions, including: Tuberculosis (TB), Cryptococcal meningitis, Cancers such as lymphomas and Kaposi’s sarcoma
Prevention
HIV is a preventable disease. Here are the most effective methods to reduce the risk of a HIV infection:
- Using condoms during sex
- Do regular routine HIV tests
- Having a medical male circumicision
- Pre- and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
- Don’t share or reuse needles for drug use, tattoos, or piercings
- Education and Awareness about HIV prevention
Treatment
While there is no cure for HIV, the infection can be managed with antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART helps control the virus, allowing individuals to live longer, healthier lives and reducing the risk of transmission to others. It is the standard treatment for HIV and works by preventing the virus from replicating. This reduces the viral load in the body, helping to protect the immune system. Currently, antiretroviral therapy must be taken every day for the rest of a person’s life.