HIV Education

In Uganda, we [HELP] taught 9 HIV-positive individuals tactics for keeping themselves healthy with a damaged immune system. We also taught them community mobilization skills, which they used to start support groups in their own communities. This brought services to AIDS-affected villagers who otherwise would not receive help, because they live too far from the hospital. It also brought a sense of empowerment and purpose to those who we mentored to create the support groups.

The World Health Organization published ten facts about HIV:
1. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infects cells of the immune system
2. HIV can be transmitted in several ways
3. 34 million people live with HIV/AIDS worldwide
4. HIV/AIDS is the world’s leading infectious killer
5. Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) prevents the HIV virus from multiplying in the body
6. About 6.65 million HIV-positive people had access to ART in low- and middle-income countries at the end of 2010
7. An estimated 3.4 million children are living with HIV/AIDS
8. Mother-to-child-transmission is almost entirely avoidable
9. HIV is the strongest risk factor for developing active TB disease
10. There are several ways to prevent HIV transmission
 
To read more of this publication, please go to http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/hiv/en/index.html
 
Yours Truly, HELP Headquarters