HIV stands for Human Immune Deficiency Virus. Usually our Body is able to fight off different viruses because we have an immune system. HIV however, directly attacks the immune system, and disables its ability to fight off infection.

HIV makes the body increasingly vulnerable, and when it can no longer combat the virus, the person is diagnosed with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). In short, HIV becomes AIDS as the immune system degenerates. On average, it takes about ten years for someone with HIV to develop AIDS, but malnutrition and other factors can lead to a more rapid development.

However, HIV-positive individuals do not necessarily develop AIDS. People with HIV can live a full and normal life if they have access to antiretroviral drugs. Yet these drugs may not be available due to lack of funding. The treatment is also very strict. The drugs have to be taken every day for the rest of the person’s life no matter how severe the side effects are. If the treatment is stopped or interrupted, one may become immune or resistant to the drug.

HIV is spread through blood and body fluid. In most cases it is from having unprotected sex (sexual intercourse without a condom) with someone who is HIV-positive. In some cases, it is from receipt of infected blood products like blood transfusions, or reuse of single-use items like syringes and needles.

However, blood used for transfusion is now being tested and is therefore no longer a risk in most of the world. In other cases, the virus may be spread through ritual tattooing or piercing if the object being used is not sterilised. I suspect in those tribes in which ritual circumcision (male and female) is still performed, there is a fair amount of HIV transmission from the ritual tools. Moreover, the way the orphans have become HIV-positive is largely through what is called ‘vertical’ transmission or mother-to-child transmission.

HIV does not necessarily present itself with visible symptoms.
A person might not even know if he or she is infected with the virus. The only way to find out is to be tested. Getting tested is important in order to stop HIV from spreading. A person who is aware of his or her HIV status can take precautions against transmitting the virus to others, and is therefore a powerful strength in a society’s battle against the spread of the virus.

Today, there is no vaccine to cure or prevent HIV/AIDS-and about 2 million people die from AIDS-related diseases each year. “In spite of millions of US dollars spent, there is no effective preventative vaccine. I believe one will be developed but it will not be in the near future. The epidemic has hit the sub-Saharan Africa hardest. In 2007, approximately three quarters of all AIDS deaths were in this region. 12 million children in sub-Saharan Africa are orphaned due to the AIDS epidemic.