HIV / AIDS
40 million people live with HIV/AIDS worldwide, including one-million-plus in the U.S. and over 20,000 in CT. Our state ranks among the highest in per capita rates of infection, new HIV diagnoses, and AIDS among women and persons 50 years of age or older. Behind each of these numbers is a person in need. Learn more and help stop the epidemic!
Introduction
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a disease that attacks a person’s immune system and makes it difficult for them to fight infections and diseases. Poverty, lack of education and limited access to healthcare are a few of the underlying issues of HIV/AIDS in the world. Educating those at-risk and improving the quality of life for those with HIV is a priority for those interested in joining the cause. There are many opportunities right here in Hartford to help out those affected by HIV/AIDS.
Check your knowledge of HIV / AIDS. Take the following quiz.
Exploring HIV / AIDS on the Local Scene
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), attacks a person’s immune system and makes it difficult for them to fight infections and diseases. The disease can be transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person, pregnancy, sharing of needles or syringes, or very rarely through blood transfusions.
There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, although there has been a lot of progress in the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs that slow the production of HIV in the body. Increasing effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs has created an increased longevity to the lives of HIV/AIDS patients. While there is no cure for HIV/AIDS one can prevent the transmission of the disease by practicing safe sex or completely abstaining from sexual intercourse. Drug users can reduce the risk by not using drugs and not sharing needles.
According to the CT AIDS Bike Tour, Connecticut has an estimated 20,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. The state is ranked 8th in the nation for AIDS cases per capita, and leads the nation in AIDS cases among injecting drug users, is second in cases among women and third in cases among Latinos/as. There is an increased risk of AIDS for minority populations and women across the country. For example, 80 percent of the American women with HIV/AIDS are Hispanic. One of the reasons for this is injection drug use is higher in minority communities, therefore increasing the spread of the disease.
From Local to Global
According to a December 2004 UNAIDS report, 39.4 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with HIV, including 17.6 million women and about 2.2 million children under the age of 15. With numbers as large as these, the need for help and support is urgent. People living with HIV/AIDS need endless support beyond medicine. The Hands on Network emphasizes that contracting HIV may also result in a loss of socio-economic status, employment, income, housing, quality health care and mobility.
While 20,000 people in Connecticut are estimated to be living with HIV, over 39 million worldwide live with the virus. There are similarities in the cases of HIV/AIDS no matter what the location. The Hands on Network reports that these countries had the highest numbers of reported HIV/AIDS cases at the end of 2003: South Africa (5.3 million), India (5.1 million), Nigeria (3.6 million), Zimbabwe (1.8 million), and the United Republic of Tanzania (1.6 million). Developing countries dealing with HIV/AIDS are struggling to get antiretroviral drugs. The spread of the disease continues in part because of lack of education. The number of children orphaned by the disease is rising. According to a UNAIDS report, there were approximately 15 million AIDS orphans in 2003, 12 million of them in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Responding
Education is one of the first steps to helping the HIV/AIDS cause. Through more education we can help stop the spread of the disease, and stop the stigma and fear surrounding those infected.
Hands on Hartford offers several ways to get involved with the issue of HIV/AIDS. Check the project calendar to find a service opportunity that fits your schedule and interest.
Resources
The above information was taken from the following sources. Click on the links to learn more: Sources: CT AIDS Bike Tour, Hands On Network, Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition (CARC).
