HIV/AIDS is a very complex disease that has killed over 25 million people since 1981. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. HIV is a disease that kills the T helper cells (a type of white blood cell) in the immune system and makes it fail so that the infected person has a high chance of carrying an opportunistic infection. Once a person carries an opportunistic infection, their immune system has weakened so much from the HIV that they have progressed to AIDS. An opportunistic infection basically means that the host (in other words, the infected person) carries this infection but really feels nothing if they are still healthy. It’s only when this person “catches” something like a cold or fever that the oppprtunistic infection takes that as its opportunity to heavily affect that person in that infected area and their immune system at once. HIV/AIDS is transmitted when in contact with semen, blood or breast milk. A lot of times, what ends up happening is that the AIDS is the direct cause of cancer. Some of the types of cancer people could have because of their AIDS are Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and HPV (which can lead to ovarian cancer).

HIV has heavily affected Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2007, 22 million children and adults suffered from HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. Even in America, more than a million people suffer from AIDS. So, what is the best way to protect yourself from HIV?
- Use a condom if you are having sex (once at a time)
- Try not to have sex with several partners but instead, just one. (Try not to have sex at all or at least until you think you are ready)
- Do not share needles with other people
- Keep yourself sanitary and efficient. If you work at a hospital, be sure to wash your hands frequently and to wear protective gear (ie: gloves) at all times.

Currently, HIV/AIDS is a deadly and incurable disease. The United Nations have made HIV/AIDS one of their top priorities in their millenium development goals. The goal with HIV/AIDS is that by 2015, this disease will be stopped and reversed. But unfortunately, a lot of the people that require the treatment cannot afford it because they live in developing countries. The most used treatment is taking antiretrovirals (aka ARV’s) that slow down the mutation/growth of the disease by keeping it at a low level and helping the body to try to recover from any damage done to the immune system. The only problem is that the patient will have to take this drug for the rest of their life and even with this drug, it does not guarantee that they won’t die from AIDS or get cured from it.

The UN has said that their goals are:
o HIV prevalence among population aged 15–24 years
o Condom use at last high-risk sex
o Proportion of population aged 15–24 years with comprehensive correct knowledge of HIV/AIDS

Unfortunately, only 83 out of the 123 countries in the world have integrated their national universal access targets into their National Strategic plans. Additionally, only 99 countries have set targets for treatment while 98 countries have set targets for one or more prevention interventions.  The world still needs to catch up!

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
One thing, is that people have to get over the fear that HIV/AIDS is like the plague. Yes, it is a deadly disease but you shouldn’t let that hinder you from making really good friends in life. People suffering from this disease do so much more better with the support of others. Even if you aren’t fond of helping people with HIV/AIDS personally, you can organize charity events, write letters to governments or join organizations that working towards this goal such as  Live8 or UNAIDS. The worst thing you can possibly do is do nothing. By doing nothing, you are only hindering our global society from reaching a goal that is so close with our reach! 

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