aids action plan

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AIDS Action Plan

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome , AIDS,  is a disease which develops from the human immunodeficiency  virus (HIV). It affects many around the world in many ways. One of the many places that has been largely effected is the Sub-Sahara. There are over 40 million people world- wide affected by AIDS.  Many dillemas are faced when trying to resolve the crisis of AIDS and in this report these problems will be discussed.

29th February 2008

Presented by: Ayesha Mirchandani

Introduction

      Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, AIDS is diagnosed upon a collection of symptoms and is due to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV attacks and weakens one’s immune system, gradually destroying it. Although many don’t get the symptoms of HIV for many years, the first symptoms can appear within six weeks. Symptoms include flu-like illness, sore throats, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches and rashes. The virus can then take from between one year and more than ten years to develop into AIDS. An indication of AIDS may be developing severe weight loss over a short period of time, serious infections and cancers such as Lymphoma. There is no cure for AIDS, and once it has been diagnosed, it severly impacts a person’s ability to live a normal life, ultimately leading to death.

      HIV can be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids ( vaginal fluid,blood and semen). Methods of transmission include unprotected sex, sharing of needles or syringes (for drug injection) and blood transfusions. Altough it is rare, because in most countries blood is screened for HIV antibodies, the transmission of HIV is most dangerous through blood transfusion. The most common way of transmission is through unprotected sex. During vaginal intercourse, semen and vaginal fluids come in contact, and during anal intercouse semen and blood come in contact. Transmission can also occur through oral sex where semen is transfered. Babies born to HIV- infected women often become infected before or during birth, otherwise through breast feeding.

Where?

       It is strongly believed that HIV inherits its properties from SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus), which is found in monkeys. Since monkeys were eaten regularly eaten in West Africa ,it is also believed that HIV/AIDS originated from West Africa .  However, AIDS was first discovered in New York, USA. The first report on AIDS was published on the 5th  of June 1981 by the Center for Disease Control. Since then the world has been facing up to   one of the deadliest epidemic in modern history.

      Although a pandemic (AIDS) affects each region in every continent of the world, of the 40 million cases of HIV, two-thirds are in the Sub- Sahara alone.  In 2006, 60% of the people living with AIDS live in the Sub- Sahara and today there are even more. Today,  25 million people live with HIV in Africa as the disease spreads rapidly across the world. India has the largest number of people living with HIV outside Africa. There are 5.1 million people in India who are infected.

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Who?

     Many different people suffer from HIV. 59% of the infected victims in Africa are women. More women suffer possibly due to  lower promiscuity  -an infected woman infects fewer men that an infected man infects women. Youngsters (15-24 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections world wide. Nearly 6,000 young people become infected every day. In the most severely affected countries adults between 20-49 years of age are dying in larger numbers.

The Problem

      There are various problems with the epidemic AIDS. Many  of HIV- positive  victims don’t ...

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