HIV/AIDS

Fast Facts about HIV/AIDS

An estimated 39.5 million people in the world are living with HIV or AIDS. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS – a disease that attacks a person's immune system (the system in our body that keeps us healthy). There is not yet a cure or vaccine for AIDS. In 2006, 4.3 million people were newly infected with HIV. (UNAIDS)
An estimated 28.9 million people worldwide have died from AIDS since the beginning of the pandemic. (U.S. Agency for International Development)
Seventeen million of the 28.9 million people who have died from AIDS are Africans. Currently, 30 million Africans are infected with the HIV virus, approximately 1.5 million of whom are children. (DATA)
There are 13.7 million AIDS orphans in Africa and it is estimated that the number will grow to 25 million by 2010 unless major prevention efforts begin immediately. (U.S. Agency for International Development)
There are currently six million people living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries that urgently need access to antiretroviral treatment. Only 400,000 have access to treatment. (World Health Organization)

Protect yourself against HIV/AIDS
Eliminating your own risk for contracting HIV is a critical first step to ending the epidemic. To find out how to protect yourself from HIV/AIDS, click here.
Become knowledgeable about AIDS
Educate your friends and community about AIDS, how to prevent it, and how to prevent discrimination against people who have AIDS. Take a quiz to test your knowledge and learn more.
Promote World AIDS Day
December 1 is World AIDS Day. Spreading awareness and support for international action about AIDS and HIV is a critical part of preventing it. Hold an event at your school, church, club, or house.
Write your elected officials
Tell your elected officials that you support funding towards AIDS prevention, care for those with AIDS, and efforts to finding a cure. Remind them that HIV/AIDS is everybody’s problem. Click here to find the addresses of your representatives.

Africa Alive
Africa Alive uses music, street performances, and other media to educate youth in Africa about how to prevent themselves from getting HIV/AIDS.
Advocates for Youth's Youth Action Center
Advocates for Youth focuses on promoting accurate sexual health information and services.
UNAIDS
UNAIDS is the main advocate for global action on HIV/AIDS. It leads, strengthens, and supports an expanded response aimed at preventing transmission of HIV. It also works to reduce the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV/AIDS, to help alleviate the impact of the epidemic.