write an essay on hiv and aids

Essay on AIDS for Students and Children

500+ words essay on aids.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or better known as AIDS is a life-threatening disease. It is one of the most dreaded diseases of the 20 th century. AIDS is caused by HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which attacks the immune system of the human body. It has, so far, ended more than twenty-nine million lives all over the world. Since its discovery, AIDS has spread around the world like a wildfire. It is due to the continuous efforts of the Government and non-government organizations; AIDS awareness has been spread to the masses.

AIDS – Causes and Spread

The cause of AIDS is primarily HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus replicates itself into the human body by inserting a copy of its DNA into the human host cells. Due to such property and capability of the virus, it is also known as a retrovirus. The host cells in which the HIV resides are the WBCs (White Blood Cells) that are the part of the Human Immune system.

HIV destroys the WBCs and weakens the human immune system. The weakening of the immune system affects an individual’s ability to fight diseases in time. For example, a cut or a wound takes much more time to heal or the blood to clot. In some cases, the wound never heals.

HIV majorly transmits in one of the three ways – Blood, Pre-natal and Sexual transmission. Transfusion of HIV through blood has been very common during the initial time of its spread. But nowadays all the developed and developing countries have stringent measures to check the blood for infection before transfusing. Usage of shared needles also transmits HIV from an infected person to a healthy individual.

As part of sexual transmission, HIV transfers through body fluids while performing sexual activity. HIV can easily be spread from an infected person to a healthy person if they perform unprotective sexual intercourse through oral, genital or rectal parts.

Pre-natal transmission implies that an HIV infected mother can easily pass the virus to her child during pregnancy, breastfeeding or even during delivery of the baby.

AIDS – Symptoms

Since HIV attacks and infects the WBCs of the human body, it lowers the overall immune system of the human body and resulting in the infected individual, vulnerable to any other disease or minor infection. The incubation period for AIDS is much longer as compared to other diseases. It takes around 0-12 years for the symptoms to appear promptly.

Few of the common symptoms of AIDS include fever , fatigue, loss of weight, dysentery, swollen nodes, yeast infection, and herpes zoster. Due to weakened immunity, the infectious person falls prey to some of the uncommon infections namely persistent fever, night sweating, skin rashes, lesions in mouth and more.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

AIDS – Treatment, and Prevention

Till date, no treatment or cure is available for curing AIDS, and as a result, it is a life-threatening disease. As a practice by medical practitioners, the best way to curb its spread is antiretroviral therapy or ART. It is a drug therapy which prevents HIV from replicating and hence slows down its progress. It is always advisable to start the treatment at the earliest to minimize the damage to the immune system. But again, it is just a measure and doesn’t guarantee the cure of AIDS.

AIDS prevention lies in the process of curbing its spread. One should regularly and routinely get tested for HIV. It is important for an individual to know his/her own and partner’s HIV status, before performing any sexual intercourse activity. One should always practice safe sex. Use of condoms by males during sexual intercourse is a must and also one should restrict oneself on the number of partners he/she is having sex with.

One should not addict himself/herself to banned substances and drugs. One should keep away from the non-sterilized needles or razors.  Multiple awareness drives by the UN, local government bodies and various nonprofit organizations have reduced the risk of spread by making the people aware of the AIDS – spread and prevention.

Life for an individual becomes hell after being tested positive for AIDS. It is not only the disease but also the social stigma and discrimination, felling of being not loved and being hated acts as a slow poison. We need to instill the belief among them, through our love and care, that the HIV positive patients can still lead a long and healthy life.

Though AIDS is a disease, which cannot be cured or eradicated from society, the only solution to AIDS lies in its prevention and awareness. We must have our regular and periodical health checkup so that we don’t fall prey to such deadly diseases. We must also encourage and educate others to do the same. With the widespread awareness about the disease, much fewer adults and children are dying of AIDS. The only way to fight the AIDS disease is through creating awareness.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

• Essay on AIDS

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is an infection that causes cells in the body that help it fight infections, making a person more susceptible to other infections and diseases. Interaction with certain bodily secretions of an HIV-positive individual, most commonly during unprotected intercourse (sex without the use of a condom or HIV treatment to prevent or treat HIV), or sharing injection drug equipment spreads the virus.

If HIV is not treated, it can progress to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV cannot be eradicated by the human body, and there is no effective HIV cure. As a result, whether you have HIV, you will have it for the rest of your life.

Long and Short AIDS Essay in English

There are many diseases causing microorganisms, like bacteria, viruses, fungi etc. The symptoms of the diseases depend on the type of microorganism that is spreading it. It can vary from mild to severe. AIDS which stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is a viral disease that is rampant in growth. It was only in the last century that this viral disease has proved to be lethal and fatal, taking away about twenty million lives globally. The awareness about the disease and the virus causing it which is HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is more now compared to earlier. In this HIV AIDS essay, we can go through the important information about it and burst some myths.

Below are different ways to write an AIDS essay in English. The essay on HIV AIDS can be of 2 formats, a long essay on HIV AIDS or a short AIDS essay.

Short Essay on Aids

This AIDS essay is a brief one and will cover the important notes about the disease and the ways one can prevent it.

The way of occurrence of this disease is in the name itself, AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. The disease is acquired via the virus which is called Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is not an auto-immune disease in the early stages of infection where the immune system in the body fights off infection to protect the body from diseases that go against itself. The virus enters from an outside source and destroys the efficiency of our immune system.

AIDS is transmitted through contact. The contact with infected blood of the HIV OR AIDS patient in any form can easily transfer this viral disease. It can also be transmitted through contact with semen or vaginal fluids of the infected person. This occurs in the case when one is sexually exposed to a person with HIV.

HIV once enters the body, invades and conquers the immune system making the body susceptible to other diseases. It is then very easy for the simple flu or cold infection to be severe as the immune system is no longer fit to fight it.

When detected in the early period can be battled with, but more often than not people assume the symptoms to not be AIDS so it spreads and kills the individual. To be protected when having sex and not sharing any form of toiletries with others is the way to prevent and keep this deadly virus at bay.

Long Essay on AIDS

This is the long format of an essay on HIV AIDS where its workings, causes and effects and remedies are discussed.

There are some diseases that have been borne by the living in this world which has created a ruckus in human history and the struggle to find a permanent cure still exists. AIDS is one such disease. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is the name of the disease which is also shortened as AIDS.

It has since only the 20 th century affected the human race and many people lost their lives, more than 20 million of them. The virus that aids in the transmission of this disease is Human Immunodeficiency Virus or also called HIV. Due to the same property of immunodeficiency, it is referred to as HIV/AIDS.

Since it affects the immune system severely, the cells and the workings of it in our body must be clearly understood. The immune system’s role in the body is that of a soldier wherein it identifies any sort of anomalies that enters or infiltrates the body and prepares antibodies against it. And kills them in order to prevent infection that has the probability of causing a harmful disease.

Since the cells of the immune system have already created the antibodies, the cell memory is activated when the entry occurs again and the immune system fights and destroys such foreign and harmful matter.

What Happens when HIV Enters the Body?

When a person is infected with the Human immunodeficiency virus, it directly attacks the immune system making the cells weak and incapable of creating antibodies for this particular virus. As they become weak their function to perform the task of defending against other microorganism entrants is also weakened.

When the fighter in our bodies becomes weak, we are more likely to fall ill. The illness can be a simple flu or an allergy and our body cannot fight any further. The symptoms once infected will start to appear within the first two weeks. The symptoms are very flu-like for instance, one will be more tired than usual and fatigue will be more frequent and regular. Other symptoms include sore throat and fever. The risk of opportunistic infections like tuberculosis and herpes also increases. Some people however remain asymptomatic even for longer periods after being infected with the virus.

Cause of HIV/AIDS

The main and only cause of this dreadful disease is the contact through blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids and breast milk. The semen and vaginal fluids are transferred through sex and rectal fluids through anal sex. When people have multiple partners, and they have unprotected sex the transmission is highly likely. The contact through blood can also be via the unhygienic practice of sharing an infected person’s razors, blades. Even unsterilized syringes while taking drugs or even a tattoo parlor where they use unsterilized machines on the body can transmit the virus easily. The transmission means are endless so one must proceed with utmost caution to keep themselves safe either way.

What is the Life Expectancy for the Patients Carrying HIV or AIDs with Them?

Many factors can affect the life expectancy of people living with HIV. Depending on these factors there are many differences in the outcomes between people, and other factors. The factors on which life expectancy depend are:

Access to effective HIV treatment and quality health care.

Start HIV treatment as soon as possible after HIV infection, before your CD4 cell count drops to a low level. The sooner you are diagnosed and start HIV treatment, the better your long-term chances are.

Having serious HIV-related illnesses in the past. This may occur before HIV is diagnosed and/or before HIV treatment is started. These diseases have a detrimental effect on life expectancy.

Results one year after starting HIV treatment. Studies show that life expectancy is better for people who respond well within a year of starting treatment than people who do not respond. In particular, people with a CD4 count of at least 350 and an undetectable viral load during the year have a much better chance long-term.

Year of Diagnosis - HIV treatment and medical care have improved over the years. People who have been diagnosed in recent years are expected to live longer than people who were diagnosed long ago.

Heart diseases, liver diseases, cancer and other health conditions are more likely to be the cause of death than HIV or AIDs.

Injecting drug use - Life expectancy is short for people with HIV who inject drugs, due to drug overdose and viral infections.

Social and Economic Conditions - there are significant differences in life expectancy depending on where you grew up, your income, education, social status and more.

Gender – Men are supposed to live for a shorter period of time than women.

Genetics - you may have certain conditions if close relatives have.

Mental and Emotional Well-being - high levels of stress are associated with reduced life expectancy.

Lifestyle - longevity for people who eat a balanced diet, are physically active, maintain a healthy weight, avoid alcohol abuse or use drugs, and stay in touch with the community. Avoiding smoking is very important in life.

There are a few myths surrounding this disease. It is believed earlier that AIDS can spread even through contact or touch without any exchange of fluids. Like through a hug or just by being near the infected person. That myth has been debunked and it is absolutely untrue. One can freely hug an AIDS patient without worry.

The other one was when kissing, there is an exchange of saliva which is also a fluid and AIDS can spread through kissing, which also proved to be untrue. And HIV always means AIDS that is fatal was another rumor or myth, and this myth is proven wrong where many people have lived longer with HIV by medication and taking care of their health.

There is no permanent cure yet for treating HIV/AIDS, so it is our responsibility to look out for ourselves. The way one can first prevent themselves from being infected is by getting vaccinated. It is important to get tested in your adult life if you have multiple sexual partners and also get your partner tested for the same. The other way is being monogamous. The most used form of prevention is having protected and safe sex and using condoms that creates a barrier for transmission. Do check for sterilized needles in case you decide to get a tattoo or injected.  Lessen the use of alcohol and drugs as that is anyway weakening and altering the immune system.

According to the estimates of the Indian government  2.40 million Indians are living with HIV wherein, the infected ones fall in the age group of 15-49, and 39 %of them that is 9,30,00 of them are women. The numbers are alarming and the rate of increase is not slowing down anytime soon. We as a country must break the traditions and conversations about sex should be open and safe. It is high time we lose our lives to this disease which can be prevented.

FAQs on Essay on AIDS

1. Is AIDS an Autoimmune Disease?

In the early stages of HIV infection that leads to AIDS, the immune system only weakens so it is not an auto-immune disease. But during the later and final stages, the workings of the immune system are similar to that of an auto-immune system where it works against itself. And in such cases, the body of the individual is susceptible to many more diseases. AIDS, a disease found in immune deficiency disorder, is caused by HIV and weakens the human immune system. Autoimmune diseases, on the other hand, are where the immune system turns, attacking healthy cells.

2. Does one die from HIV Infection?

The HIV infection results in many symptoms that make the body weaker day by day. But some do not even suffer those symptoms and they may live longer than the ones showing severe symptoms. In any case, it is important to take medications that are prescribed to reduce the severity of symptoms and live a little longer. The best way is to keep healthy and lead an active lifestyle as much as possible. Although the death toll from AIDS has dropped dramatically around the world, this situation increases the risk of contracting a fatal disease — potentially leading to death. No treatment or cure is present for HIV.

3. What method was adopted by the hospitals to report HIV or AIDs cases?

The doctors took the active initiative for the reporting and diagnosis of HIV or AIDs cases all over the world. The methods that all the French hospital wards were known for, for their role in controlling HIV infection, were asked to report the 2000 deaths among HIV-positive adults. The causes of death were recorded using a standard questionnaire. The Mortality 2000 study was launched to explain the distribution of the leading causes of death of HIV-positive people at the national level in France in the year 2000.

4. What is the way of determining the root cause of death in AIDs patients?

Following the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) to death, the information contained in the questionnaire was used to determine the single cause of death. The causes of AIDS were categorized as one cause of death, followed by definitions of AIDS-related diseases. If a standard questionnaire was lost, summarized quarter notices were used to determine the underlying cause of death, if possible. Determination of the AIDs cases was set to the most important things in the list, which was done from the abstracted quarterly notifications from the questionnaires.

5. Is Vedantu a reliable website for knowing about AIDs disease?

Vedantu is the most reliable website for referring to information about AIDs disease. Being one of the most dangerous diseases in the world with no proper treatment or cure, the world's physicians are still under pressure to decipher the way to save a person from this disease. The Vedantu website contains authentic or updated information about this disease and thus the readers and viewers can rely on this source of information for perfect knowledge about the disease and its prevention also.

Essay on HIV AIDs Awareness

Students are often asked to write an essay on HIV AIDs Awareness in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on HIV AIDs Awareness

Understanding hiv and aids.

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It attacks our body’s defense system. AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is the condition caused by HIV. It makes people very sick because their bodies can’t fight off illnesses well.

How HIV Spreads

HIV is passed from one person to another through blood, sharing needles, and from mother to baby during birth or breastfeeding. It’s also spread through sex without protection, like condoms.

Preventing HIV

Using new needles and safe sex practices, like condoms, can prevent HIV. Also, medicines can help mothers with HIV not pass the virus to their babies.

Living with HIV

People with HIV can live long, healthy lives with proper medicine. It’s important to get tested and start treatment early.

Spreading Awareness

250 words essay on hiv aids awareness.

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It attacks our body’s defense system, making it hard to fight off sickness. AIDS, which is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, happens when HIV has damaged the immune system a lot. People with AIDS can get very sick from infections that don’t usually make healthy people ill.

The Importance of Awareness

Knowing about HIV and AIDS is very important. It helps people learn how to protect themselves and others from getting the virus. Awareness also means understanding that people with HIV need support and should not be treated badly.

HIV can be passed from one person to another through blood, during sex, or from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. It is not spread by touching, hugging, or sharing food.

Prevention is Key

Preventing HIV is better than trying to treat it. This means not sharing needles, using protection during sex, and getting tested if you think you might have been exposed to HIV. There are also medicines that can lower the risk of getting HIV.

Getting Tested

Getting tested for HIV is simple and can be private. If a test shows someone has HIV, it’s not the end of the world. With today’s medicines, people with HIV can live long and healthy lives.

Support and Respect

500 words essay on hiv aids awareness, understanding hiv/aids.

AIDS, which stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, is a serious health issue caused by the virus called HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus attacks our body’s defense system, making it hard for the body to fight off diseases. People can get HIV from infected blood, sharing needles, or through unsafe sex. It’s also possible for a mother to pass it to her baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.

Why Awareness is Important

Knowing about HIV/AIDS is very important because it helps prevent the spread of the disease. People who are aware are more careful and can protect themselves and others. They know the importance of safe practices, like using new needles for medicines and not sharing them. They also understand why it’s important to have safe sex, using protection to stop the virus from spreading.

Treatments for HIV/AIDS

There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there are medicines called antiretroviral therapy (ART) that help control the virus. These medicines help people with HIV live longer, healthier lives and lower the chance of spreading the virus. Knowing about these treatments is a big part of awareness because it encourages people with HIV to get the help they need.

Support and Acceptance

People with HIV/AIDS often face tough times because others might not understand the disease. They can be treated unfairly or feel alone. HIV/AIDS awareness includes teaching people to be kind and supportive. When everyone understands the disease better, they can help those affected by HIV/AIDS feel accepted and not alone.

Education and Prevention

Global efforts.

Countries around the world are working together to stop HIV/AIDS. They share information, support research for better treatments, and help people get the care they need. It’s a global fight, and awareness is a tool that everyone can use to join in.

HIV/AIDS awareness is about understanding the disease, knowing how to prevent it, and supporting those who have it. It’s about getting tested and starting treatment if needed. Most of all, it’s about kindness and working together to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. When everyone knows more, they can do more to help themselves and others.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS Expository Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

The role of other organizations, recommendation.

HIV/AIDS has become a concern to everybody in the world. Many countries and individuals have found it very hard to deal with it because of the lack of funds. Therefore, organizations have come up to help them handle this problem. Notable organizations that have offered their support include WHO, PEPFAR, the Clinton’s AIDS Initiative, the Gates Foundation and the Global Fund.

WHO HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention Program Policy

The World Health Organization Department of HIV/AIDS provides normative and policy support to its members basing on enough evidence ( WHO | Guidelines, 2014). The purpose of this support is to improve the treatment, care provision and prevention services ( WHO | Guidelines, 2014).

The global vision of WHO is to eradicate HIV infections, deaths and discrimination against infected people. It aims at attaining universal and comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment and care. It also aims at combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases ( WHO | Guidelines, 2014). WHO developed strategic directions that health units should adopt in achieving its goals. They are:

• Optimizing the prevention, diagnosis and provision of care for HIV victims ( WHO | Guidelines, 2014)
• Leveraging wider outcomes in health through appropriate response to HIV ( WHO | Guidelines, 2014)
• Reducing susceptibility and getting rid of barriers to accessing services ( WHO | Guidelines, 2014)

The World Health Organization also proposes treatment and preventive methods that are specific to the needs of individual countries. Among the methods it proposes for the countries include the use of male and female condoms, male circumcision, antiretroviral therapy, prophylaxis and behavior change counseling ( WHO | Guidelines, 2014).

WHO also volunteered to expand HIV prevention methods in every country ( WHO | Guidelines, 2014). Currently, it has plans to develop a HIV prevention strategy based on national evidence and push for the creation of better prevention methods and interventions.

Global Fund

The Global Fund partners with governments, civil societies, the private sector and victims of AIDS, Tuberculosis, and malaria in 140 countries worldwide ( HIV/AIDS-The Global Fund, 2014). It spends over $4 billion every year on these partnerships. This support has greatly accelerated the rate at which the prevalence of AIDS reduces.

The fund was developed with the purpose of giving HIV victims financial support to reduce the rate of infections ( HIV/AIDS-The Global Fund, 2014). In addition, the Global Fund ensures that all infected people in the world can access antiretroviral therapy. By last year, the fund had helped 6 million victims of HIV get access to ARV ( HIV/AIDS-The Global Fund, 2014).

Its efforts have largely depended on the realization that ARV reduces the chances of HIV transmission by close to 90%. The Global Fund concentrates its services and support in areas where the effects of HIV/AIDS are more prevalent. It looks for geographic and demographic information, making it easier to focus on certain countries and populations around the world. It mostly focuses on stigmatized groups such as women, girls, drug users, migrant workers and inmates.

Gates Foundation

The main objective of the Gates Foundation is “to reduce the incidence of HIV infection and extend the lives of people living with HIV” ( HIV, 2014, par. 4). The organization offers support to all the efforts of reducing worldwide transmission of HIV. It also helps the victims of the virus live long and healthy lives.

The organization mainly focuses on populations living in Sub-Saharan regions of Africa. HIV has greatly affected the population in these regions ( HIV, 2014). These regions are very poor and cannot afford HIV medication without support. The foundation gives grants to organizations that fight HIV. It also offers financial support to the Global Fund.

So far, it has given approximately $2.5 billion to organizations in all countries and $1.4 billion to the Global Fund ( HIV, 2014). The foundation also advocates sustainability and increase in funding programs that aim at reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence.

The fund also supports the search for a HIV vaccine. It invests in research that aims at coming up with the vaccine. It partners with private institutions, individual researchers and governments in researching on several types of possible vaccines. It also provides antiretroviral therapy and other products such as vaginal rings and injections to the victims.

In addition to other activities, the foundation provides tools for carrying out voluntary male circumcision in 14 Sub-Saharan countries ( HIV, 2014). It also supports efforts by governments and other private institutions to diagnose and measure the prevalence of HIV.

Clinton’s AIDS Initiative

The Clinton Health Access Initiative was established with the purpose of helping all victims of HIV get access to medication and reduce its cost ( HIV/AIDS , 2014). Since its inception, the number of people accessing HIV medication has risen from 200, 000 in 2002 to over 8 million today ( HIV/AIDS , 2014).

In addition, the cost of the treatment has fallen from $ 10, 000 to approximately $100. The initiative has partnered with many countries around the world in formulating programs aimed at fighting HIV/AIDS ( HIV/AIDS , 2014). The best example of such partnerships includes the partnership with Ukraine.

This partnership aimed at increasing the access to HIV/AIDS treatment. President Clinton and Preval’s agreement to expand HIV/AIDS services and strengthen health systems in Haiti and the partnership with UNITAID that focused on reducing the prices of important AIDS medicine were also part of this initiative ( HIV/AIDS , 2014).

The main goal of PEPFAR is to save many lives through upgrading existing strategies and supporting efforts by different countries to improve their people’s health ( The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, 2014). In 2008, the president of America signed an act that authorized the use of $ 48 billion in the fight against HIV, malaria and TB.

PEPFAR also aims at promoting sustainable AIDS eradication programs ( The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, 2014). This initiative also supports countries in responding to HIV because of the belief that fighting AIDS is more effective when countries take charge of their affairs ( The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, 2014). PEPFAR also focuses on other challenges that come with HIV/AIDS such as stigma and opportunistic diseases.

The organizations should provide more material support compared to money since most countries misuse the funds they receive.

Many countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa are too poor to provide good preventive and treatment methods of HIV/AIDS to their citizens. Close to 18% of their population is infected with the virus.

This situation has prompted many private and international organizations to come to their rescue. WHO, PEPFAR, the Clinton’s Organization and the Gates Foundation have provided support in these regions for a long time.

Private and International organizations have been very supportive in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Many countries and individuals could not afford the HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment without the support of PEPFAR, WHO, Clinton’s AIDS Initiative, Gates Foundation and other organizations. These organizations have invested lots of money and material support in regions with the most prevalent cases of HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS (2014). Web.

HIV/AIDS – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (2014). Web.

HIV – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2014). Web.

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief: Five-Year Strategy (2014). Web.

WHO | Guidelines: HIV (2014). Web.

• Epidemiology
• Epidemiological Studies of Tuberculosis
• Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among HIV People
• Malaria and Poor Quality Drugs in Africa
• Key Drivers of HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa and in San Francisco and Church’s Response to the AIDS Pandemic
• Duties of Health Care Professionals During Pandemic of Highly Contagious Diseases
• Prevention and Treatment of Tuberculosis
• Epidemiology: Genetics-Related Programs
• Leishmaniasis: Causes & Treatment
• HIV and AIDS Prevention Among the Youth in Asia
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2019, June 22). Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS. https://ivypanda.com/essays/prevention-and-treatment-of-hiv-aids/

"Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS." IvyPanda , 22 June 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/prevention-and-treatment-of-hiv-aids/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS'. 22 June.

IvyPanda . 2019. "Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS." June 22, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/prevention-and-treatment-of-hiv-aids/.

1. IvyPanda . "Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS." June 22, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/prevention-and-treatment-of-hiv-aids/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS." June 22, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/prevention-and-treatment-of-hiv-aids/.

Essay on HIV AIDS 500+ Words

HIV/AIDS is a topic that is important for everyone to know about. It’s not just a health issue; it’s a global challenge that affects millions of people. In this essay, I will argue that understanding HIV/AIDS is crucial because it helps us prevent its spread, support those affected, and combat the stigma surrounding the disease.

What is HIV/AIDS?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, our body’s defense against infections. When HIV weakens the immune system, it can lead to AIDS, a condition where the body can’t fight off diseases anymore.

According to health experts, HIV/AIDS is a global pandemic that has affected millions of people worldwide. It’s important to know what it is to protect ourselves and others.

How is HIV/AIDS transmitted?

HIV can be transmitted through certain body fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk. It is most commonly spread through unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles or syringes, and from mother to child during childbirth or breastfeeding.

Experts emphasize that knowing how HIV is transmitted is essential to prevent its spread. Practicing safe sex, not sharing needles, and getting tested are important steps.

The Importance of Testing

Getting tested for HIV is a vital step in preventing its spread. Knowing your HIV status helps you make informed decisions about your health and take steps to protect yourself and others. Early detection and treatment can also help individuals live longer and healthier lives.

Health organizations and experts encourage regular HIV testing, especially for those at higher risk, such as people who have unprotected sex or share needles.

Prevention Methods

There are several methods to prevent HIV transmission. Condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective at preventing the spread of the virus during sexual intercourse. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication that can be taken by individuals at higher risk to prevent HIV infection.

Experts stress the importance of prevention methods in reducing the risk of HIV transmission. Education and awareness about these methods are key to their effectiveness.

The Impact on Communities

HIV/AIDS doesn’t just affect individuals; it impacts entire communities. It can lead to illness, loss of income, and stigma. Some communities are more affected than others, which can deepen inequalities.

Health advocates and organizations work to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on communities. They provide support, education, and resources to those affected.

Combating Stigma

One of the biggest challenges in dealing with HIV/AIDS is the stigma and discrimination that many people living with the virus face. Stigma can prevent people from getting tested, seeking treatment, or disclosing their status to others.

Health experts and organizations emphasize the need to combat stigma through education and awareness campaigns. Understanding that HIV/AIDS can affect anyone, regardless of their background, is crucial to reducing stigma.

The Role of Compassion

Compassion is a powerful tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Firstly, being compassionate, which entails showing kindness, understanding, and support to those affected by the virus, helps create a more inclusive and caring society. Additionally, experts and advocates emphasize the critical role of compassion in dealing with HIV/AIDS. Consequently, it can make a significant difference in the lives of those living with the virus.

Conclusion of Essay on HIV AIDS

In conclusion, HIV/AIDS is a global challenge that affects millions of people. Understanding the virus, its transmission, prevention methods, and the impact on communities is essential. Additionally, combating stigma and showing compassion to those affected are crucial aspects of dealing with HIV/AIDS. By raising awareness, educating ourselves and others, and supporting those in need, we can work together to make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Also Check: List of 500+ Topics for Writing Essay

• Fact sheets

Facts in pictures

• Publications
• Questions and answers
• Tools and toolkits
• Endometriosis
• Excessive heat
• Mental disorders
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• All countries
• Eastern Mediterranean
• South-East Asia
• Western Pacific
• Data by country
• Country presence 
• Country strengthening 
• Country cooperation strategies 
• News releases
• Feature stories
• Press conferences
• Commentaries
• Photo library
• Afghanistan
• Cholera 
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
• Greater Horn of Africa
• Israel and occupied Palestinian territory
• Disease Outbreak News
• Situation reports
• Weekly Epidemiological Record
• Surveillance
• Health emergency appeal
• International Health Regulations
• Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee
• Classifications
• Data collections
• Global Health Observatory
• Global Health Estimates
• Mortality Database
• Sustainable Development Goals
• Health Inequality Monitor
• Global Progress
• World Health Statistics
• Partnerships
• Committees and advisory groups
• Collaborating centres
• Technical teams
• Organizational structure
• Initiatives
• General Programme of Work
• WHO Academy
• Investment in WHO
• WHO Foundation
• External audit
• Financial statements
• Internal audit and investigations 
• Programme Budget
• Results reports
• Governing bodies
• World Health Assembly
• Executive Board
• Member States Portal
• Fact sheets /

HIV and AIDS

• HIV remains a major global public health issue, having claimed an estimated 42.3 million lives to date.  Transmission is ongoing in all countries globally.
• There were an estimated 39.9 million people living with HIV at the end of 2023, 65% of whom are in the WHO African Region.
• In 2023, an estimated 630 000 people died from HIV-related causes and an estimated 1.3 million people acquired HIV.
• There is no cure for HIV infection. However, with access to effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care, including for opportunistic infections, HIV infection has become a manageable chronic health condition, enabling people living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives.
• WHO, the Global Fund and UNAIDS all have global HIV strategies that are aligned with the SDG target 3.3 of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.
• By 2025, 95% of all people living with HIV should have a diagnosis, 95% of whom should be taking lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, and 95% of people living with HIV on treatment should achieve a suppressed viral load for the benefit of the person’s health and for reducing onward HIV transmission. In 2023, these percentages were 86%, 89%, and 93% respectively.
• In 2023, of all people living with HIV, 86% knew their status, 77% were receiving antiretroviral therapy and 72% had suppressed viral loads.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) occurs at the most advanced stage of infection.

HIV targets the body’s white blood cells, weakening the immune system. This makes it easier to get sick with diseases like tuberculosis, infections and some cancers.

HIV is spread from the body fluids of an infected person, including blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluids. It is not spread by kisses, hugs or sharing food. It can also spread from a mother to her baby.

HIV can be prevented and treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Untreated HIV can progress to AIDS, often after many years.

WHO now defines Advanced HIV Disease (AHD) as CD4 cell count less than 200 cells/mm3 or WHO stage 3 or 4 in adults and adolescents. All children younger than 5 years of age living with HIV are considered to have advanced HIV disease.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of HIV vary depending on the stage of infection.

HIV spreads more easily in the first few months after a person is infected, but many are unaware of their status until the later stages. In the first few weeks after being infected people may not experience symptoms. Others may have an influenza-like illness including:

• sore throat.

The infection progressively weakens the immune system. This can cause other signs and symptoms:

• swollen lymph nodes
• weight loss

Without treatment, people living with HIV infection can also develop severe illnesses:

• tuberculosis (TB)
• cryptococcal meningitis
• severe bacterial infections
• cancers such as lymphomas and Kaposi's sarcoma.

HIV causes other infections to get worse, such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B and mpox.

Transmission

HIV can be transmitted via the exchange of body fluids from people living with HIV, including blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal secretions. HIV can also be transmitted to a child during pregnancy and delivery.  People cannot become infected with HIV through ordinary day-to-day contact such as kissing, hugging, shaking hands, or sharing personal objects, food or water.

People living with HIV who are taking ART and have an undetectable viral load will not transmit HIV to their sexual partners. Early access to ART and support to remain on treatment is therefore critical not only to improve the health of people living with HIV but also to prevent HIV transmission.

Risk factors

Behaviours and conditions that put people at greater risk of contracting HIV include:

• having anal or vaginal sex without a condom;
• having another sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and bacterial vaginosis;
• harmful use of alcohol or drugs in the context of sexual behaviour;
• sharing contaminated needles, syringes and other injecting equipment, or drug solutions when injecting drugs;
• receiving unsafe injections, blood transfusions, or tissue transplantation; and
• medical procedures that involve unsterile cutting or piercing; or accidental needle stick injuries, including among health workers.

HIV can be diagnosed through rapid diagnostic tests that provide same-day results. This greatly facilitates early diagnosis and linkage with treatment and prevention. People can also use HIV self-tests to test themselves. However, no single test can provide a full HIV positive diagnosis; confirmatory testing is required, conducted by a qualified and trained health worker or community worker. HIV infection can be detected with great accuracy using WHO prequalified tests within a nationally approved testing strategy and algorithm.

Most widely used HIV diagnostic tests detect antibodies produced by a person as part of their immune response to fight HIV. In most cases, people develop antibodies to HIV within 28 days of infection. During this time, people are in the so-called “window period” when they have low levels of antibodies which cannot be detected by many rapid tests, but they may still transmit HIV to others. People who have had a recent high-risk exposure and test negative can have a further test after 28 days.

Following a positive diagnosis, people should be retested before they are enrolled in treatment and care to rule out any potential testing or reporting error. While testing for adolescents and adults has been made simple and efficient, this is not the case for babies born to HIV-positive mothers. For children less than 18 months of age, rapid antibody testing is not sufficient to identify HIV infection – virological testing must be provided as early as birth or at 6 weeks of age. New technologies are now available to perform this test at the point of care and enable same-day results, which will accelerate appropriate linkage with treatment and care.

HIV is a preventable disease.  Reduce the risk of HIV infection by:

• using a male or female condom during sex
• being tested for HIV and sexually transmitted infections
• having a voluntary medical male circumcision
• using harm reduction services for people who inject and use drugs.

Doctors may suggest medicines and medical devices to help prevent HIV infection, including:

• antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), including oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and long acting products
• dapivirine vaginal rings
• injectable long acting cabotegravir.

ARVs can also be used to prevent mothers from passing HIV to their children.

People taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) and who have no evidence of virus in the blood will not pass HIV to their sexual partners. Access to testing and ART is an important part of preventing HIV.

Antiretroviral drugs given to people without HIV can prevent infection

When given before possible exposures to HIV it is called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and when given after an exposure it is called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).  People can use PrEP or PEP when the risk of contracting HIV is high; people should seek advice from a clinician when thinking about using PrEP or PEP.

There is no cure for HIV infection. It is treated with antiretroviral drugs, which stop the virus from replicating in the body.

Current antiretroviral therapy (ART) does not cure HIV infection but allows a person’s immune system to get stronger. This helps them to fight other infections.

Currently, ART must be taken every day for the rest of a person’s life.

ART lowers the amount of the virus in a person’s body. This stops symptoms and allows people to live full and healthy lives. People living with HIV who are taking ART and who have no evidence of virus in the blood will not spread the virus to their sexual partners.

Pregnant women with HIV should have access to, and take, ART as soon as possible. This protects the health of the mother and will help prevent HIV transmission to the fetus before birth, or through breast milk.

Advanced HIV disease remains a persistent problem in the HIV response. WHO is supporting countries to implement the advanced HIV disease package of care to reduce illness and death. Newer HIV medicines and short course treatments for opportunistic infections like cryptococcal meningitis are being developed that may change the way people take ART and prevention medicines, including access to injectable formulations, in the future.

More information on HIV treatments

WHO response

Global health sector strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections for the period 2022–2030 ( GHSSs ) guide strategic responses to achieve the goals of ending AIDS, viral hepatitis B and C, and sexually transmitted infections by 2030.

WHO’s Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes recommend shared and disease-specific country actions supported by WHO and partners. They consider the epidemiological, technological, and contextual shifts of previous years, foster learning, and create opportunities to leverage innovation and new knowledge.

WHO’s programmes call to reach the people most affected and most at risk for each disease, and to address inequities.  Under a framework of universal health coverage and primary health care, WHO’s programmes contribute to achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes
• Global Health Sector Strategies on, respectively, HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections for the period 2022–2030 (GHSS)
• GHSS report on progress and gaps 2024
• HIV country profiles
• HIV statistics, globally and by WHO region, 2024

Two New Books Investigate the Power of Community and the Impact of AIDS

Viral Times: Reflections on the COVID-19 and HIV Pandemics and Toronto Living With AIDS are two new books that at first glance, beyond their shared focus on HIV and AIDS, seem to have nothing in common. One is about a specific video activist endeavor in a Canadian city; the other is about two separate epidemics. Yet, as it turns out, the two books have a lot in common.

Both are edited volumes that include insight from an international array of writers, activists, scholars, and others who are living with and impacted by HIV and AIDS. Both destabilize the U.S.-centric AIDS discourse. Additionally, in content and form, the two highlight the role that community continues to play within the ongoing HIV response.

Living in a Time of Viral Epidemics

The slightly shorter of the two books is Viral Times , a collection of essays edited by Jaime García-Iglesias, Maurice Nagington, and Peter Aggleton. The book explores the limits and possibilities of looking at COVID-19 and HIV together. It began as an update to a special issue―edited by García-Iglesias, Nagington, and Aggleton―published in 2021 by the academic journal Culture, Health & Sexuality .

As García-Iglesias explains in the book, “By the time the special issue came out, COVID had drastically changed and we sought to provide a new space where authors could reflect with a longer view, beyond the immediate moment of COVID crisis and with a view to the future.”

Released three years later, the book features 15 essays with almost 30 contributors from a diversity of disciplines such as public health, sociology, and literature; coming from 11 countries, including Vietnam, India, Canada, and the UK. The book is broken down into three sections: intimate relationships; biomedicalization; and professional, practitioner, and community perspectives. (Full disclosure: I contributed an essay on memorialization).

A majority of the essays begin with the fact that HIV and COVID-19 are viral illnesses that became pandemics; that have―and continue to―wreak social, political, and of course medical havoc on the world; and that have been treated, by governments, the media, and the public very differently, primarily around who is seen as being impacted.

Almost every essay notes that HIV has largely been positioned, since the AIDS response began, as impacting specific and already under-resourced communities—gay people, people who use drugs, sex workers, people from Haiti—whereas COVID, even amid anti-Asian rhetoric, is largely seen as an illness impacting everyone. This stated difference is taken up across the book by looking at the various ways the two illnesses are stigmatized, treated in the media, addressed medically, and used politically. The last essay in the book, for example, by Shubhada Maitra, Shalini Bharat, and Marie A. Brault, looks at the limits of using HIV as a model for addressing COVID in India, primarily through the lens of stigma and discrimination, and how societal judgment differs between the two pandemics.

Many of the essays also consider the impact of the viruses on the body. This includes the relative ease with which COVID is shared between people compared with HIV—and how HIV left untreated is fatal, whereas in most cases, COVID-19 left untreated is not fatal but still poses a serious health concern.

Living With a Virus Rather Than Trying To Conquer It

Tim Dean, in his essay, considers viral intimacies as a way of thinking of viruses as something we live with, not as a force we must conquer. This line of thinking comes as a result of his long engagement with HIV and AIDS. Dean is not alone. Because of the chronology of the pandemics, HIV provides many of the writers a proper framing with which to understand and then differentiate COVID from AIDS, as well as other illnesses. In their contribution, Kiran Pienaar and Dean Murphy offer what they call a “diffractive reading of COVID-19 and mpox” alongside HIV. Meaning that we can see the HIV response through many angles, by the different―yet similarly influenced by HIV―ways public officials dealt with COVID-19 and mpox.

One of the many interesting realizations that the collection lays bare is that some of the issues society has with HIV now exist with COVID―most notably around how to write about the crisis when it changes over time.

We Are Having This Conversation Now , a book that I co-wrote with Alexandra Juhasz, makes a similar observation. In the book, we offer a timeline of AIDS that highlights the years 1987 to 1996 as a period we call “AIDS crisis culture”: a time of mass death and mass response that transforms into a new period with the arrival of lifesaving medications in 1996.

In her book The Gentrification of the Mind , Sarah Schulman also makes a contrast between “AIDS of the past”(pre-1996) and “ongoing AIDS.” Others have attempted to make distinctions as well. In some cases, people refer to the first decades of AIDS as “the plague years,” though many resist this, in large part because of a fidelity to the fact that, for many people and communities, the plague continues.

Similarly, numerous essays within Viral Times use a variety of methods to distinguish the AIDS crisis across time. On the whole, there is a sense that the writers are unconsciously making a distinction between the experiences of COVID during lockdowns and after a majority of the lockdowns ended. Notably, they do not always have the language or historical distance to do so.

It is not clear to me what will age well and what won’t in Viral Times . As a collection, it details what is known from various perspectives as well as what is still being worked out. Regardless, the book is a gift to the future, much like AIDS: The Burdens of History ―published in 1988, edited by Elizabeth Fee and Daniel M. Fox―was. Burdens’ collections of essays were prescient at the time and introduced many readers to ideas that have since fallen out of common discourse or become outdated. Perhaps Viral Times will become the same.

Using ’90s Cable TV To Make Sense of Toronto’s Present HIV Epidemic

Scholar and artist Ryan Conrad has long used his work to cruise the past while showing audiences how to make sense of and improve the present. His latest book, Toronto Living With AIDS , explores the legacy of a ’90s cable television show from which the book derives its name. In the book, Conrad reveals how the show came to be, who its creators were, and its legacy.

Each episode of Toronto Living With AIDS ( TLWA ) was created by a local video maker, featuring ideas and people from specific communities dealing with the epidemic. Most infamous of the episodes is Bolo! Bolo! (1991) a sex-education video focused on the city’s South Asian community. Directed by Kasper Saxena and Ian Rashid, the video was not only censored by the cable company, it was the last episode of TLWA to air because the show itself was canceled after the censorship.

The book begins with an essay by Conrad that puts the show in context. Audiences get a sense of AIDS video activism in the 1980s and 1990s in Canada and the U.S., as well as the relevant fights at the time around freedom of expression in Canada. Conrad’s interest in TLWA is rooted in the fact that, for him, the show is “an example from the recent past of HIV/AIDS where everyday people organized and engaged in cultural resistance in a way they never had before in the Canadian context. It’s one of few examples where people have done solidarity and collaboration across differences well.”

To illuminate the exemplary power of TLWA , the book ends with reflections on what individual episodes mean to contemporary voices, including filmmakers Chase Joynt, Alison Duke, Kristin Li, and Jamie Whitecrow; artists Kiera Boult, Andil Gosine, and Mikki Burino; writers Peter Knegt and Jon Davies; and activists Alex McClelland and Jessica Whitbread.

In between Conrad’s essay and the individual reflections are a collection of in-depth interviews conducted by Conrad with some of the people responsible for TLWA , including Rashid and Saxena, as well as Debbie Douglas, Richard Fung, John Greyson, Colman Jones, Glace Lawrence, James MacSwain, Ted Myerscough, and Darien Taylor.

While the people behind the scenes of TLWA were from a diversity of backgrounds, many of them were only a degree or two away from each other. All were brought together by producers Michael Balser (1952-2002) and Greyson. Throughout the interviews, Conrad connects some dots between the people involved, granting clarification on who appeared in each other’s work and who shared friends. At times, he even shares gossip from yesteryear. What powerfully emerges from these interviews is a networked story of people connected by crisis and capacity working together with then–cutting-edge technology, figuring things out as they went along.

The interviews are an opportunity to revisit the videos, some of which you can watch online for free , and a chance to unpack how they came to be. The final interview―with Taylor, who directed an episode of TLWA entitled Voices of Positive Women ―provides a lesson in real-time decision-making and strategizing as she and Conrad discuss details like how best to spend video budget money (catering or b-roll?) and how the inclusion of New Jersey activist Wendi Alexis Modeste was made possible through a collaboration with Toronto’s Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention.

While much of what gets discussed is from the past, there are often passages that speak to ongoing and current conversations. Conrad and Jones have a meaningful conversation about HIV skeptics or dissidents—or, as they are known by some, AIDS denialists. Myerscough’s interview provides helpful tips on cross-cultural collaboration that seem as relevant to understanding the past as they do to thinking about how to work in the present.

Viral Times captures the present. Toronto Living With AIDS engages with the past. Yet the cable show tapes are not merely treated as objects on a shelf. Rather, they are a testament to the times in which they were made, as well as an inspirational dialogue that shaped and continues to inform today.

Read together, Viral Times and Toronto Living With AIDS illuminate the historic and ongoing response to HIV through culture, activism, community-building, and collectivity.

Viral Times: Reflections on the COVID-19 and HIV Pandemics. Routledge Publishing. 256 pages. Edited by Jaime García-Iglesias, Maurice Nagington, and Peter Aggleton.

Toronto Living With AIDS. PUBLIC Books, distributed by Wilfrid Laurier University Press. 296 pages. Edited by Ryan Conrad.

• Share via facebook
• Share via twitter
• Share via mail

More Like This

How one activist is empowering black communities through education to end the hiv epidemic.

How People With HIV Are Winning Reproductive Equality in the UK

CDC Finally Puts $7 Million Toward Pilots for Free, Easy PrEP Access

30 Years Ago, Pregnant Women of Color Fought for a Major Breakthrough in HIV Prevention

• Español (Spanish)

HIV Overview

Hiv and aids: the basics.

• The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes HIV infection. If untreated, HIV may cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) , the most advanced stage of HIV infection.
• People with HIV who are not on medication and do not have consistent control of their HIV can transmit HIV through vaginal or anal sex, sharing of needles, pregnancy, and/or breastfeeding. If HIV is controlled, the risk of transmission is close to zero.
• Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the use of HIV medicines that reduce the level of HIV in the blood (called viral load). ART is recommended for everyone who has HIV. ART cannot cure HIV infection, but HIV medicines help people with HIV have about the same life expectancy as people without HIV.
• HIV medicines (ART) can eliminate the risk of HIV transmission . For parents with HIV that want to breastfeed, the risk of transmitting HIV through breast milk is less than 1% with the consistent use of HIV medicine (ART) and an undetectable viral load.
• People on ART take a combination of HIV medicines (called an HIV treatment regimen ) every day (pills) or by schedule (injections). In many cases oral medicines may be combined into a single pill or capsule. There are newer long-acting medicines given by an injection every 2 months that may be used in some people.

What is HIV and AIDS?

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus , which is the virus that causes HIV infection. The abbreviation “HIV” can refer to the virus or to HIV infection.

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.

HIV attacks and destroys the infection-fighting CD4 cells ( CD4 T lymphocyte ) of the  immune system . The loss of CD4 cells makes it difficult for the body to fight off infections, illnesses, and certain cancers. Without treatment, HIV can gradually destroy the immune system, causing health decline and the onset of AIDS. With treatment, the immune system can recover.

How is HIV transmitted?

HIV can be transmitted from one person to another when certain bodily fluids are shared between people. Bodily fluids that can transmit HIV include blood, semen (“cum”), pre-seminal fluid (“pre-cum”), vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breastmilk. HIV can be transmitted during vaginal or anal sex, through sharing needles for injecting drugs or tattooing, by getting stuck with a needle that has the blood of someone with HIV on it, through pregnancy, and through breastfeeding.

The transmission of HIV from a birthing parent with HIV to their child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding is called perinatal transmission of HIV. For more information on perinatal transmission, read the HIVinfo fact sheet on  Preventing Perinatal Transmission of HIV .

You cannot get HIV by shaking hands or hugging a person who has HIV. You also cannot get HIV from contact with objects, such as dishes, toilet seats, or doorknobs, used by a person with HIV. HIV is not spread through the air or water or by mosquitoes, ticks, or other insects. Use the HIVinfo You Can Safely Share…With Someone With HIV  infographic to spread this message.

What is the treatment for HIV?

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the use of HIV medicines to treat HIV infection. People on ART take a combination of HIV medicines (called an HIV treatment regimen ) every day (pills) or by schedule (injections). In many cases oral medicines may be combined into a single pill or capsule. There are newer long-acting medicines given by an injection every 2 months that may be used in some people.

ART is recommended for everyone who has HIV. ART prevents HIV from multiplying, which reduces the amount of HIV in the body (called the  viral load ). Having less HIV in the body protects the immune system and prevents HIV infection from advancing to AIDS. ART cannot cure HIV, but HIV medicines can help people with HIV live long, healthy lives.

How can a person reduce the risk of transmitting HIV?

ART reduces the risk of HIV transmission. ART can reduce a person’s viral load to an undetectable level. An  undetectable viral load  means that the level of HIV in the blood is too low to be detected by a viral load test . People with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load have no risk of transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative partner through sex.

HIV medicines taken during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding can also reduce the risk of perinatal (parent to infant) transmission of HIV. Previously, replacement feeding (properly prepared formula or pasteurized donor human milk from a milk bank) was recommended instead of breastfeeding since the risk of HIV transmission was considered high. Now, there is evidence that the risk of transmission through the breastmilk of someone consistently using ART and maintaining an undetectable viral load is low (less than 1%). Pregnant people with HIV can speak with their health care provider to determine what method of feeding their baby is right for them.

How can a person reduce the risk of getting HIV?

For people without HIV, there are several ways to reduce the risk of acquiring (getting) HIV infection.  Using condoms correctly with every sexual encounter, particularly with partners that are HIV positive with a detectable viral load or with partners whose HIV status is unknown, can reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. Reducing HIV risk also involves limiting and reducing sexual partners, and avoiding sharing needles.

Persons who do not have HIV should talk to their health care provider about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) . PrEP is an HIV prevention option for people who do not have HIV but who are at risk of becoming infected with HIV. PrEP involves taking a specific HIV medicine every day or a long-acting injection. For more information, read the HIVinfo fact sheet on Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) .

What are the symptoms of HIV and AIDS?

Within 2 to 4 weeks after infection with HIV, some people may have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, or rash. The symptoms may last for a few days to several weeks. Other possible symptoms of HIV include night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and mouth ulcers. Having these symptoms does not mean you have HIV. Other illnesses can cause the same symptoms. Some people may not feel sick during early HIV infection (called acute HIV ). During this earliest stage of HIV infection, the virus multiplies rapidly. After the initial stage of infection, HIV continues to multiply but at lower levels.

More severe symptoms of HIV infection for persons not on ART may not appear for many years until HIV has developed into AIDS. People with AIDS have weakened immune systems that make them prone to opportunistic infections. Opportunistic infections are infections and infection-related cancers that occur more frequently or are more severe in people with weakened immune systems than in people with healthy immune systems.

Without treatment, HIV transmission is possible at any stage of HIV infection—even if a person with HIV has no symptoms of HIV.

How is AIDS diagnosed?

Symptoms such as fever, weakness, and weight loss may be a sign that a person’s HIV has advanced to AIDS. However, a diagnosis of AIDS is based on the following criteria:

• A drop in CD4 count to less than 200 cells/mm 3 . A CD4 count measures the number of CD4 cells ( CD4 T lymphocyte ) in a sample of blood. OR
• The presence of certain opportunistic infections.

Although an AIDS diagnosis indicates severe damage to the immune system, HIV medicines can still help people at this stage of HIV infection.

This fact sheet is based on information from the following sources:

From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• AIDS and Opportunistic Infections
• HIV and Pregnancy

From the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

• Introduction
• Infant Feeding for Individuals with HIV in the United States

From the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID):

Also see the  HIV Source  collection of HIV links and resources.

HIV/AIDS Essays

Exploring the discourse of hiv/aids in east african health communication: a corpus linguistic review, popular essay topics.

• American Dream
• Artificial Intelligence
• Black Lives Matter
• Bullying Essay
• Career Goals Essay
• Causes of the Civil War
• Child Abusing
• Civil Rights Movement
• Community Service
• Cultural Identity
• Cyber Bullying
• Death Penalty
• Depression Essay
• Domestic Violence
• Freedom of Speech
• Global Warming
• Gun Control
• Human Trafficking
• I Believe Essay
• Immigration
• Importance of Education
• Israel and Palestine Conflict
• Leadership Essay
• Legalizing Marijuanas
• Mental Health
• National Honor Society
• Police Brutality
• Pollution Essay
• Racism Essay
• Romeo and Juliet
• Same Sex Marriages
• Social Media
• The Great Gatsby
• The Yellow Wallpaper
• Time Management
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Violent Video Games
• What Makes You Unique
• Why I Want to Be a Nurse
• Send us an e-mail

• What Are HIV and AIDS?
• How Is HIV Transmitted?
• Who Is at Risk for HIV?
• Symptoms of HIV
• U.S. Statistics
• Impact on Racial and Ethnic Minorities
• Global Statistics
• HIV and AIDS Timeline
• In Memoriam
• Supporting Someone Living with HIV
• Standing Up to Stigma
• Getting Involved
• HIV Treatment as Prevention
• Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
• Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
• Preventing Sexual Transmission of HIV
• Alcohol and HIV Risk
• Substance Use and HIV Risk
• Preventing Perinatal Transmission of HIV
• HIV Vaccines
• Long-acting HIV Prevention Tools
• Microbicides
• Who Should Get Tested?
• HIV Testing Locations
• HIV Testing Overview
• Understanding Your HIV Test Results
• Living with HIV
• Talking About Your HIV Status
• Locate an HIV Care Provider
• Types of Providers
• Take Charge of Your Care
• What to Expect at Your First HIV Care Visit
• Making Care Work for You
• Seeing Your Health Care Provider
• HIV Lab Tests and Results
• Returning to Care
• HIV Treatment Overview
• Viral Suppression and Undetectable Viral Load
• Taking Your HIV Medicine as Prescribed
• Tips on Taking Your HIV Medicine as Prescribed
• Paying for HIV Care and Treatment
• Other Health Issues of Special Concern for People Living with HIV
• Alcohol and Drug Use
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) and People with HIV
• Hepatitis B & C
• Vaccines and People with HIV
• Flu and People with HIV
• Mental Health
• Mpox and People with HIV
• Opportunistic Infections
• Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Syphilis and People with HIV
• HIV and Women's Health Issues
• Aging with HIV
• Emergencies and Disasters and HIV
• Employment and Health
• Exercise and Physical Activity
• Nutrition and People with HIV
• Housing and Health
• Traveling Outside the U.S.
• Civil Rights
• Workplace Rights
• Limits on Confidentiality
• National HIV/AIDS Strategy (2022-2025)
• Implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy
• Prior National HIV/AIDS Strategies (2010-2021)
• Key Strategies
• Priority Jurisdictions
• HHS Agencies Involved
• Learn More About EHE
• Ready, Set, PrEP
• Ready, Set, PrEP Pharmacies
• AHEAD: America’s HIV Epidemic Analysis Dashboard
• HIV Prevention Activities
• HIV Testing Activities
• HIV Care and Treatment Activities
• HIV Research Activities
• Activities Combating HIV Stigma and Discrimination
• The Affordable Care Act and HIV/AIDS
• HIV Care Continuum
• Syringe Services Programs
• Finding Federal Funding for HIV Programs
• Fund Activities
• The Fund in Action
• About PACHA
• Members & Staff
• Subcommittees
• Prior PACHA Meetings and Recommendations
• I Am a Work of Art Campaign
• Awareness Campaigns
• Global HIV/AIDS Overview
• U.S. Government Global HIV/AIDS Activities
• U.S. Government Global-Domestic Bidirectional HIV Work
• Global HIV/AIDS Organizations
• National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day February 7
• HIV Is Not A Crime Awareness Day February 28
• National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day March 10
• National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day March 20
• National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day April 10
• HIV Vaccine Awareness Day May 18
• National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day May 19
• HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day June 5
• National HIV Testing Day June 27
• Zero HIV Stigma July 21
• Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day August 20
• National Faith HIV/AIDS Awareness Day August 25
• National African Immigrants and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness Day September 9
• National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day September 18
• National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day September 27
• National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day October 15
• World AIDS Day December 1
• Event Planning Guide
• U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA)
• National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care & Treatment
• AIDS 2020 (23rd International AIDS Conference Virtual)

Want to stay abreast of changes in prevention, care, treatment or research or other public health arenas that affect our collective response to the HIV epidemic? Or are you new to this field?

HIV.gov curates learning opportunities for you, and the people you serve and collaborate with.

Stay up to date with the webinars, Twitter chats, conferences and more in this section.

Supporting Someone with HIV

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Email

How Can You Help Someone Who Has Been Newly Diagnosed with HIV?

There are many things you can do to support a friend or loved one who has been recently diagnosed:

• Listen. Being diagnosed with HIV is life-changing news. Listen to your loved one and offer your support. Be available to have open, honest conversations about HIV. Follow the lead of the person who is diagnosed with HIV. They may not want to talk about their diagnosis or may not be ready. They may want to connect with you in the same ways they did before they were diagnosed. Do things you did together before their diagnosis; talk about things you talked about before their diagnosis. Show them that you see them as the same person and that they are more than their diagnosis.
• Learn. Educate yourself about HIV: what it is, how it is and is not transmitted, how it is treated, and how people can stay healthy with HIV. Having a solid understanding of HIV is a big step forward in supporting your loved one and reassuring them that HIV is a manageable health condition. HIV.gov’s HIV Basics pages are an excellent source of information to familiarize yourself with HIV. Have these pages available for your newly diagnosed friend if they want them. Knowledge is empowering, but keep in mind that your friend may not want the information right away.
• Encourage medical care and treatment. Some people who are recently diagnosed may find it hard to take that first step to getting into HIV medical care. But the best thing people with HIV can do for their health is to get into care and start treatment with HIV medicine as soon as possible. By starting HIV medicine, sticking to a treatment plan, and staying in care, people with HIV can reduce the HIV in their blood to an undetectable level. That’s a level so low it can’t be detected in a standard test. People with HIV who take HIV medicine exactly as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load can live long and healthy lives and will not transmit HIV to their HIV-negative partners through sex. Encourage your loved one to see a doctor and start HIV treatment as soon as possible. If they do not have an HIV health care provider, you can help them find one. Use HIV.gov’s HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator to find one nearby. There are also programs that can help with paying for HIV treatment and care .
• Support medication adherence . It’s important for people with HIV to take their HIV medicine exactly as prescribed. Ask your loved one what you can do to support them in establishing a medication routine and sticking to it. Also ask what other needs they might have and how you can help them stay healthy. Learn more about treatment adherence and get tips for sticking to a treatment plan .
• Get support. Take care of yourself and get support if you need it. Turn to others for any questions, concerns, or anxieties you may have, so that the person who is diagnosed can focus on taking care of their own health. But always respect the privacy of the loved one with HIV.

If you are the sexual partner of someone who has been diagnosed with HIV, you should also get tested so that you know your own HIV status. If you test negative, talk to your health care provider about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), taking HIV medicine to prevent HIV. PrEP is recommended for people at risk of getting HIV, including those who are in a relationship with a partner who has HIV who is not on treatment and does not have a suppressed viral load . If you test positive, get connected to HIV treatment and care as soon as possible.

What If a Friend Tells You That They Have HIV?

More than a million people in the United States have HIV, so you may know someone with the virus. If your friend, family member, or co-worker has had HIV for some time and has just told you, here’s how you can be supportive:

• Acknowledge. If someone has disclosed their HIV status to you, thank them for trusting you with their private health information.
• Ask. If appropriate, ask if there’s anything that you can do to help them. One reason they may have chosen to disclose their status to you is that they need an ally or advocate, or they may need help with a particular issue or challenge. Some people are public with this information; other people keep it very private. Ask whether other people know this information, and how private they are about their HIV status.
• Reassure. Let the person know, through your words or actions, that their HIV status does not change your relationship and that you will keep this information private if they want you to.
• Learn. Educate yourself about HIV. Today, people with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed can get and keep an undetectable viral load, stay healthy, and will not transmit HIV to their sexual partners. Don’t make assumptions and look to your friend for guidance.

Related HIV.gov Blogs

Exploratory analysis associates hiv drug abacavir with elevated cardiovascular disease risk in large global trial, hiv clinical guidelines now recommend high resolution anoscopy as part of anal cancer screening program for people with hiv, ehe jurisdictions support innovative hiv treatment approaches.

• Linkage to Care
• Treatment HIV Treatment
• CDC – Let's Stop HIV Together: Talk HIV
• CDC – HIV Basics: Living with HIV

Essay on the HIV/Aids Health Issue in South Africa

The Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is one of the major health challenges affecting public health in South Africa. Despite South Africa’s efforts to avail medications for controlling and reducing viral transmission, HIV/AIDS still poses a significant health challenge to the public. The disease has already devastated thousands of families across the country. Deaths resulting from HIV/AIDS have orphaned millions of children and disrupted the normal structure of the community. HIV/AIDS has affected almost every sector of life. The pandemic has largely contributed to the increase in health expenditures in South Africa. The critical level of care required by the patients is forcing the government to divert resources that would otherwise be used to finance other development projects. Apart from overburdening the overall health and social support expenditures in the country, the virus is claiming the lives of hundreds of health practitioners in South Africa. The HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa is a complicated public health issue that requires a strategic approach from the national governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations.

Historical Context of HIV/AIDS in South Africa

South Africa reported its first HIV case in 1982, a time when the country was fighting to end the apartheid system (Hodes, 2018). The government ignored the HIV/AIDS problem as the country was facing other serious challenges such as political unrest. The media outlets did not react to the pandemic immediately (Hodes, 2018). Politics dominated major headlines at the time and the public was not immediately made aware of the pandemic. HIV silently began to take hold mostly among the gay population of South Africa and the black population.

Three years after the first case was reported, the department of health initiated a public awareness campaign. The campaign included the use of coffins and skeletons to convey messages about HIV/AIDS in the country (Hodes, 2018). The campaign however did not convey messages on the mode of transmission. In 1987, the apartheid government sought to restrict the civil liberties of infected persons (Hodes, 2018). South Africans diagnosed with HIV were quarantined while immigrants who had the disease or were suspected to have been infected were deported back to their countries.

By 1990, HIV/AIDS prevalence in South Africa had reached an all-time high. The country was at this time transitioning from apartheid to democracy and the government was facing a myriad of challenges which included corruption and abuse of power (Hodes, 2018). There was no elaborate plan by the government to handle the HIV/AIDS issue. The department of health was unable to take the appropriate measures to curb the spread of the disease. Infected people could not access the life-saving antiretroviral treatment (Hodes, 2018). These factors led to the rise of public health activist movements in the country. Members of these movements sought to compel the government to enable public access to testing and treatment of the virus. The movements further sought to force the government to undertake the necessary steps to curb the spread of the virus.

The efforts of the activists saw the formation of The National Aids Convention of South Africa (NACOSA) in 1991 (Geffen and Welte, 2018). This organization sought to strengthen partnerships among civil groups, health workers, and development agencies in a bid to curb the spread of HIV on the. In 1993, the South Africa government published its first plan to intervene HIV/AIDS pandemic issue (Hodes, 2018). Despite all these activities, the response to the pandemic remained inadequate and ineffective. Cultural challenges impeded the government’s efforts in addressing the HIV/AIDS issue. For instance, it was a taboo among some South African communities to talk openly about sex.

Current Developments of HIV/AIDS Pandemic Issue

Currently, South Africa has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world. Out of the 58 million people in the country, 7.7 million are estimated to have contracted the virus (Avert, 2020). In the Southern Africa region, South Africa alone accounts for 30% of all new HIV infections. Of the 240,000 new infections in 2018, 71,000 were from South Arica (Avert, 2020). The burden of the pandemic has profound implications on the development of South Africa. The high rates of HIV-related infections and deaths have compromised household stability and investments in children.

The government of South Africa has made commendable efforts to address the HIV/AIDS issue. Steps undertaken by the government include enhanced clinical testing and financing the anti-retroviral program (ART) (Avert, 2020). Today, South Africa has the largest antiretroviral treatment in the world (Avert, 2020). This program is largely financed from domestic resources. As a result of the ART program, the national life expectancy in the country has increased from 56 to 63 years.

There has been notable progress in the testing and suppression of the virus. A report by the world health organization indicates that 90% of the people living with HIV have so far been tested and 87% of them have enrolled in the treatment program (Avert, 2020). The prevalence, however, remains high especially in the Western Cape and in KwaZulu-Natal areas.

HIV/AIDS Health and Social Policies in South Africa and a Comparative Analysis with the United States

Access to Testing

The government of South Africa has launched a number of HIV testing and care programs. The two recent nationwide testing initiatives are the National HIV testing and the National HIV/AIDS counseling campaign (Avert, 2020). These initiatives were part of the government’s policy to have people working in the private sector and the higher education sector get tested for the virus. As a result of this policy, more than 10 million people have since been tested (Avert, 2020). There have however been discrepancies in the number of women when compared to that of men who present themselves for testing. More women are tested as compared to men. Men are reportedly worried about queuing outside the testing facilities.

Access to HIV testing is a priority in many other countries. In the United States, for instance, the government has undertaken measures to include annual HIV testing for people aged between 15-65 years (Avert, 2019). Such measures include the expansion of the national health insurance program. The rate of people who turn in for HIV testing in the United States of America is however low as compared to that of South Africa. In the United States, people have a low disease risk perception while others are afraid of being stigmatized after diagnosis.

Access to Care and Treatment

The United Nations program introduced the 90-90-90 targets to mitigate the adverse effects of HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, 2017). In line with the UN’s program, South Africa guarantees free and reliable access to anti-retroviral treatment (ART) (Avert, 2020). At least 4.8 million people in the country are receiving HIV/AIDS treatment as a result of the free access to care and treatment policy (Masquillier et al., 2020). Studies reveal that more women than men are more likely to enroll for ART in South Africa and as a result, the mortality rate of men is twice that of women.

Just like in South Africa, there is free access to care and treatment policy for the people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States (Avert, 2020). Testing for HIV/AIDS in the United States has become widespread over time. However, more than half of the adult population are were yet to turn out for testing as at 2012 (Rizza et al., 2012). The number of people who turn in for these services in the United States is, however, lower when compared with that of South Africa. This can be attributed to lack of awareness and misconceptions related to the HIV/AIDS virus in the United States.

Education and Awareness

The government of South Africa has made numerous efforts to educate the masses and create awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic (Avert 2020). The government is determined to use the education policy to provide comprehensive sexuality education in both public and private schools. By the end of the year 2016, only 5% of the schools were offering sexuality education in South Africa (Avert 2020). The government is planning to introduce a system of education that will assist learners to prevent and report incidents of sexual violence.

In the United States, the status of sexual health education is insufficient in most areas. There are claims that sexual education is not taken seriously and in some cases, it does not start early enough for the learners. The number of schools where students are supposed to get advice on HIV prevention keeps decreasing in the United States. Offering HIV/AIDS education and creating awareness has not been taken seriously in the United States. According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (2016), many Americans have become complacent about HIV/AIDS and at least a quarter of the patients are not aware of their statuses.

Legislation

Through legislation, the government of South Africa has managed to minimize cases of discrimination on an HIV status basis. Section 6(1) of the constitution requires the public especially those at the workplace to desist from any form of unfair discrimination based on a person’s HIV status (Mubangizi, 2009). The constitution bars employees from dismissing employees who turn out to be HIV positive. These laws aim to promote a non-discriminatory work environment and curb the stigmatization of HIV patients.

HIV/AIDS Pandemic issue in the Context of Social Divisions in South Africa

Apart from HIV/AIDS being a medical problem in South Africa, it is a social problem. This is demonstrated by the virus’s widespread, ineffectiveness and the inability of the medical department to control HIV expansion in the country. South Africa is one of the world’s countries that have experienced gross social inequalities (Gordon, Booysen and Mbonigaba, 2020). Such inequalities are mostly based on racial, class, and gender factors. Apartheid for instance has for a long time shaped the social profile and as a result, derailed the efforts to deal with the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Social divisions and issues related to it have been the major setback in the fight against the virus. Whereas anyone regardless of their social status can get infected with HIV/AIDS, certain groups of people are at a higher risk of getting the infection (Avert, 2020). These groups of people engage in high-risk behaviors while others experience stigma and discrimination. Stigma and discrimination are among the major hindrances for people to seek HIV testing and treatment. If the social issues are well understood and dealt with, the government and international organizations could effectively roll out prevention programs to the people at high risks.

Women in South African society have an unequal cultural, social, and economic status. This is largely a result of inequitable laws and harmful cultural practices that empower men and disempower women. Women are at a higher risk of contracting the virus as compared to men. By 2017, the percentage of women infected stood at 26% while that of men stood at 15% (Avert, 2020). Gender-based violence, poverty, and the low status of women in South Africa are largely to blame for the high disease prevalence among women. A third of women in the country have at one time experienced intimate partner violence.

A report by the world health organization indicated that the HIV prevalence among young women was much higher than that of young men in the year 2018. Intergeneration relationships between older men and young women were understood to be the major force behind this disparity. Discriminative social attitude towards women makes it harder for them to access testing and treatment services.

South Africa is among the countries with the highest unequal distribution of resources (Gordon, Booysen and Mbonigaba, 2020). The HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country has brought about huge demands for medical care in the public health sector. As a result, the disease is more prevalent among the middle class and lower class population.

Preventing early deaths arising from HIV-related infections requires a household member to first identify the infection through testing, and enroll in the treatment program. Though testing is free in South Africa, there are other related expenses such as transport fees. People of the lower class may have problems in financing such expenses. People of the lower social class report lower rates of HIV testing as compared to those of high social class.

Being of a lower social class in South Africa is associated with reduced or no food security, lack of food diversity, and increased chances of skipping meals. Poor women are forced to adopt behaviors that increase their risk of getting infected. These behaviors include commercial sex and early marriages. HIV patients require a balanced diet to boost their immune response to opportunistic infections. In addition, Low-class people may have difficulties accessing protection equipment such as condoms due to their reduced financial capability.

Globally, racial inequalities play a significant role in escalating the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Some ethnic groups are at a higher risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV when compared to other ethnic groups. This is because, in some places such as South Africa, some population groups have higher rates of HIV/AIDS prevalence. The risk of acquiring the infection in these groups is high.

In South Africa, Black African males have high HIV/AIDS prevalence as compared to their counterparts from other races (Avert, 2020). The high prevalence among blacks is created by historical social injustices and unequal social and economic status. The apartheid particularly has contributed significantly to the HIV prevalence among the black community in South Africa (Hodes, 2018). In a country where blacks are the majority, apartheid perpetuated HIV through denial of health services and access to quality education to the black community. Apartheid policies mostly addressed the social and economic advances for the minority white communities at the expense of the black race. Up to date, the black community is yet to recover from the burden of high HIV prevalence which would otherwise not be there had it not for the apartheid system.

Cultural Issues

The high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa has prompted speculations regarding risk factors that may be unique to the country. Some cultural practices increase the risk of HIV/AIDS in the region. These factors include polygamy, early marriages, and virginity testing. All these vices characterize most South African societies.

Polygamy is not primarily a harmful practice that can directly lead to the spreading of HIV/AIDS. However, how people in polygamous marriages conduct themselves ends up facilitating the spread of the virus. Wives in a polygamous marriage have little or no control over the sexual behaviors of their husbands or co-wives. Infidelity for instance could be a catalyst for the spread if the cheating partner gets infected. In the KwaZulu-Natal community of South Africa, there has been a resurgence of virginity testing (Ngubane, 2020). The public identification of a young girl as a virgin increases her risk of sexual abuse.

Age and Family Status

By 2018, the number of HIV-infected children in South Africa stood at 260,000 and 63% of them were on treatment. These were children of age 0-14 (Avert, 2020). The rate of infection among young children is lower as compared to that of people aged 15 years and above. The decline in new infections among children is attributed to the government’s efforts in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission. Children are however mostly affected by the HIV pandemic through the loss of their parents and guardians. HIV/AIDS pandemic has orphaned At least 1.2 million children in South Africa (Avert, 2020). This creates another problem as these children lose their providers. They become insecure and vulnerable to HIV due to economic and social insecurities. Such children become targets of sexual predators who force them to have sex in exchange for support.

The Role of International Organizations and Aid Agencies in Addressing the HIV/AIDS Issue

There are many international organizations involved in the fight against the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. These organizations engage in a coordinated effort to stop new HIV infections and ensure that everyone living with the virus has unrestricted access to testing and quality treatment. International Organizations such as the Joint United Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) are responsible for promoting human rights for the patients and producing data for decision making. Some of the prominent international organizations involved in this fight include The Global Fund, The World Health Organization (WHO), and UNAIDS. These organizations undertake the international role of policy formulation and legislation in matters concerning the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Formulation of Policies

One of the policies adopted by international organizations is the creation of awareness about HIV/AIDS. Kaiser Family Foundation for instance focuses on the provision of the latest data and information about the virus (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2016). The organization conducts research and data analysis on regular basis. In addition, Kaiser Family Foundation works with major news organizations across the world to enable easy access to information. Its information is provided free of charge.

International health organizations aim to build a better and healthier future for people living with HIV/AIDS across the world. These organizations advocate for equality and preservation of human rights regardless of their health status. The World Health Organization particularly provides evidence-based technical support to countries across the world. The organization supports its members in the quest to scale up the treatment of the virus and slow down its spread. The mission of such organizations is to lead collective action on the global HIV response.

The United Nations General Assembly fully recognizes human rights and freedoms. The organization has formulated a number of international regulations and guidelines meant to protect HIV patients across the world. Following a global outcry against the high cost of HIV treatment, the ministerial council in 2001 made a regulation prompting its members to take measures to protect public health (Patterson and London, 2002). The United Nations members were required to allow easier access to medications for people living with the virus.

International organizations have made numerous efforts to form and support national organizations. These national organizations comprise professionals and HIV/AIDS victims who are united in advocating for the rights of patients. With the support of the United Nations Development Programme, many countries have been able to form law associations meant to oversee the implementation of the rights of patients. Organizations such as legal clinics promote laws and policies on human rights and freedom.

Global Issues in the Fight against HIV/AIDS

The global economic crisis is a major hindrance to the international fight against HIV/AIDS. The UNAIDS faces a greater challenge in ensuring that UN agencies heed their call of supporting developing countries that are severely affected by the pandemic. Financing a sustainable response to the disease is a hard task especially for developing nations. With the emergence of other pandemics that require huge financing, international organizations face a challenge in financing the HIV/AIDS control measures.

The emergence of other infections has derailed the international fight against HIV/AIDS. Currently, the world is battling a new virus. The COVID-19 pandemic has a serious impact on the most vulnerable communities and impedes the progress of the fight against HIV/AIDS. World resources are now redirected to the new virus. At the moment, there is no single country that is immune to the increasing economic cost of the new pandemic.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic poses a significant health threat to South Africa. The complex nature of the disease makes it even harder for the government and other international organizations to develop a comprehensive approach to addressing it. The government and other organizations, however, have made numerous efforts to intensify testing, treatment, and provision of care to HIV patients. All these efforts have been derailed by other social factors such as class differences, gender inequalities, ethnicity, and cultural issues. In its efforts to slow the spread of the disease and mitigate its adverse effects, the government has enacted a number of policies. The policies include free access to HIV testing, education, and the creation of public awareness. International organizations have made numerous efforts to help South Africa and other developing nations in fighting the virus. These include financing the war against the disease and developing policies meant to address the HIV/AIDS issue.

 Avert. 2019. HIV and AIDS in the United States of America (USA). [Online] Available at: <https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/western-central-europe-north-america/usa> [Accessed 17 April 2021].

Avert. 2020. HIV and AIDS in South Africa. [Online] Available at: <https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/sub-saharan-africa/south-africa> [Accessed 17 April 2021].

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2016.  Challenges in HIV Prevention . [Online] Available at: <https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/factsheets/challenges-508.pdf> [Accessed 6 May 2021].

UNAIDS. 2017. Ending Aids; Progress towards the 90-90-90 targets. [Online] Available at: <https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/Global_AIDS_update_2017_en.pdf> [Accessed 17 April 2021].

Geffen, N. and Welte, A., 2018. Modeling the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic: A review of the substance and role of models in South Africa.  Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine , 19(1).

Gordon, T., Booysen, F. and Mbonigaba, J., 2020. Socio-economic inequalities in the multiple dimensions of access to healthcare: the case of South Africa. BMC Public Health, 20(1).

Hodes, R, 2018. ‘HIV/AIDS in South Africa’,  Oxford Research Encyclopedia of African History .

Kaiser Family Foundation. 2016. HIV Awareness and Testing. [Online] Available at: <https://www.kff.org/slideshow/hiv-awareness-and-testing/> [Accessed 17 April 2021

Masquillier, C., Knight, L., Campbell, L., Sematlane, N., Delport, A., Dube, T., and Wouters, E., 2020. Sinako, a study on HIV competent households in South Africa: a cluster-randomized controlled trial protocol. Trials, 21(1).

Mubangizi, J., 2009. HIV/AIDS and the South African Bill of Rights, with specific reference to the approach and role of the courts.  African Journal of AIDS Research , 3(2), pp.113-119.

Ngubane, L., 2020. Traditional Practices and Human Rights: An Insight on a Traditional Practice in Inchanga Village of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. The Oriental Anthropologist:  A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man , 20(2), pp.315-331.

Patterson, D. and London, L., 2002. International law, human rights, and HIV/AIDS. [Online] Global Public Health and International Law. Available at: <https://www.who.int/bulletin/archives/80(12)964.pdf> [Accessed 17 April 2021].

Rizza, S., MacGowan, R., Purcell, D., Branson, B. and Temesgen, Z., 2012. HIV Screening in the Health Care Setting: Status, Barriers, and Potential Solutions.  Mayo Clinic Proceedings , 87(9), pp.915-924.

Cite this page

Similar essay samples.

• Introduction to Homeland Security and Defense
• Essay on Work Place Stress
• Essay on Federalism
• Essay on AGT and SRC
• Decision Making Processes Research and Analysis
• Essay on My Entrepreneurial Motives and Mindsets

Search Search

Young children impacted by AIDS need crucial education and support

Barriers to education, Early childhood development, Education funding, Health and education convergence

February 20, 2019

Early childhood development, including pre-primary education, can play a huge role in ensuring marginalised children get the best start in life.

The case for early childhood development, the stats on hiv/aids and children, the impact of hiv/aids on young children, where in the world, what the children need to thrive, taking on the challenge, now it's time for more action.

Life is challenging for children who live in communities impacted by HIV/AIDS. Over two million of them are HIV positive themselves – and millions more are suffering the effects of the virus on their parents and families.

Without nurturing care and early childhood development (ECD), vulnerable youngsters under the age of five are in danger of being left behind. But investment in these crucial early years is lacking – less than 1% of education aid goes on pre-primary and developing countries are not investing enough in the future of their under-fives.

A framework of support that includes quality early childhood development and access to pre-primary education is absolutely crucial. Theirworld has been calling for ECD and pre-primary to be prioritised within education strategies – and that must include funding for children impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Here we look at the issues of ECD and HIV/AIDS, and the help children need.

Every child deserves the best start in life. 90% of the brain develops before the age of five and the foundations for success at school and in later life will be in place.

Young children need quality nurturing care – including play, health, protection, nutrition and early learning – particularly in the first three years. They also need access to free, quality pre-primary education between the ages of three and five.

But too many under-fives are being failed. More than 180 million children do not have access to quality early learning. Over 80% of children aged three to five in the poorest countries are not in pre-primary education.

The most marginalised children are affected even more and are at higher risk of being left behind. They include children affected by conflicts and disasters, those with disabilities and children impacted by HIV/AIDS.

There are more than 13 million children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS

• More than two million children are HIV positive – but fewer than half of them are being treated. 
• Every day, there are nearly 400 new infections in children.
• In 2017 it was estimated that 13.4 million children had lost one or both parents to AIDS and millions more suffered its effects on their family. 
• Children up to the age of four living with HIV face the highest risk of any age group of AIDS-related death. But only half of HIV-exposed babies are tested by the recommended age of two months. 
• In East and Southern Africa, UNAIDS estimates that 30% of all children are now born to women living with HIV. 

The Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS said in a brief last year: “What happens to a child during pregnancy and in the first 1,000 days determines their path through life.” There are many ways in which HIV/AIDS can have a direct or indirect impact on that path.

Coalition Manager Corinna Csaky explained: “The first 1,000 days are a vital window for early childhood development (ECD) – and it is often precisely in this time that HIV-affected households are under most strain.

“The social and economic poverty and exclusion facing HIV-affected children and their caregivers affects their ability to eat well, to provide their children with nurturing care and they are at greater risk of exposure to toxic stress, which impacts on ECD.  

Put simply, without broader social and economic support, these under-fives may not make it to preschool. Corinna Csaky, Manager of the Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS

“One aspect of ECD that really needs greater investment and is often overlooked is the mental wellbeing of the mother. 

“HIV can cause depression amongst mothers – both the disease, its medication and the social and economic impacts of living with HIV. 

“As a result, some mothers living with HIV are less able to nurture their children or to bond with them.  

“The potential and resilience amongst both mother and child are limited.  And they slip even further behind into greater risk of HIV infection, inequality, violence, exclusion and poverty, which are transferred along generations.”

After peaking in the early 200s, the number of new HIV infections among children has steadily dropped (UN Aids)

The countries most affected by HIV/AIDS are in Eastern and Southern Africa. 

The highest number of new infections are in Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Malawi, according to the 2018 annual report by PEPFAR (the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), which is the largest bilateral funder to HIV-affected countries. 

But the next hot spots are expected to be in Russia, Indonesia and several countries in West Africa with high infection rates and poorly-developed resources.

At a meeting in Senegal last month, UNAIDS, UNICEF and the World Health Organization urged countries in western and central Africa to do more to stop new HIV infections among children and adolescents and increase HIV testing and treatment coverage.

The Sustainable Development Goals agreed by world leaders to be achieved by 2030 include quality education for all. Within that is a specific target to “ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.”

Millions of children around the world are not getting that opportunity. But marginalised children face an even more uphill struggle – including children in communities affected by HIV/AIDS, who have significant challenges to overcome.

That doesn’t just mean providing access to education – it means young children affected by HIV/AIDS need specific support that matches their evolving needs as they grow.

That includes medical and social, economic and psychological support to help children avoid, survive and overcome HIV and its impacts. It also means giving parents, carers and communities of children affected by HIV and AIDS the skills, resources and attitudes they need to support the youngsters.

Young children affected by HIV/AIDS need specific support that matches their evolving needs as they grow (PEPFAR)

Corinna Csaky said: “Put simply, without broader social and economic support, these under-fives may not make it to preschool – and for others who do, the impacts of preschool will be limited by the other challenges they face. 

“Under-fives, as with all children, need comprehensive support to survive and thrive. 

“In particular, urgent investment is needed in social protection and psychosocial support to their caregivers.”

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has been helping AIDS-affected children in five East African countries – Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. 

It previously invested more than $50 million in programmes, much of which was used to get children into pre-primary school. Its 2017-21 strategy  – backed by another $50 million – has more emphasis on reaching pregnant women and caregivers of very young children from birth to the age of two.

Its strategy said: “While we will focus the majority of our investments on pregnant women and the youngest children during the first 1,000 days, we recognise that access to early learning opportunities for preschool-age children are important.”

The Hilton Foundation aims to provide quality ECD to at least 100,000 children by 2021, as well as training for 60,000 caregivers.

Ed Cain, Vice President of Grant Programs at the Hilton Foundation, said: “Learning is at the very heart and soul of what we do. The amount of resources that philanthropy has to invest on solving some of the problems we have chosen to address – in this case young children affected by AIDS – is only a drop in the bucket in terms of what is needed. 

“But if we can demonstrate through learning what are the best ways to address the plight of these children from zero to five, we can bring others who do have additional resources to invest along with us.”

Countries and international donors need to invest more strongly in early childhood development (UNICEF / Schermbrucker)

Theirworld has been campaigning for more investment by countries and donors in early childhood development, including pre-primary education. 

We have called for 10% of education spending to go on ECD and for every child to have access to two years of free, quality pre-primary school.

Fiona Duggan, Head of Projects at Theirworld, said: “There is much evidence to suggest that pre-primary education, within the context of holistic early childhood development interventions, can play a vital equalising role for children from the most marginalised communities, including children affected by Aids and HIV. 

“This is why in 2019 Theirworld will be focusing on pre-primary and marginalised children in order to ensure every child gets the best start in life – no matter their income, gender, health status or location.”

Theirworld’s work on early childhood development is supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

See all news

11 Oct 2022

MyBestStart programme gives young girls the education they deserve

15 Sep 2022

Why the world needs to spend much more on early childhood education

Essay on HIV AIDS

One of the deadliest and most destructive ailments that has gripped human society is the pandemic known as AIDS. The disease itself is a retro-viral disease with its pathogen known as HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

However, HIV does not mean AIDS always as many HIV patients can take the help of medicines and stay HIV positive.

Many a time unscreened or not properly screened blood is transfused into patients which results in HIV transmission. Multiple uses of syringes etc is another such mode.

The third and probably the easiest one to avoid is through unprotected sexual activity. The threat of this disease can be traced by its difficult to identify symptoms.

Most of the early symptoms are that of the common flu with joint pains, fever, a period of chills and profuse sweating, glandular infection, tiredness, and sudden weight loss, etc.

The sad reality is that there exists no cure for AIDS. The progression can be slowed or stopped by anti-retro-viral drugs and therapy. This can significantly enhance the quality and longevity of the patient. However, there is no absolute remedy for the disease.

Even more difficult than physical destruction is the psychological blow that is dealt with by anyone who is diagnosed with such a condition. This is down to the misunderstanding and social stigma attached to HIV/AIDS.

Related Posts:

Silent Speech in Phaswane Mpe’s HIV/AIDS Writing

• ORIGINAL PAPER
• Published: 31 August 2024

Cite this article

• Sheila Giffen 1  

South African writer Phaswane Mpe (1970—2004) is often canonized and memorialized as a brave truth-teller who broke the silence on HIV/AIDS in the context of government silence and denial. And yet Mpe’s writings—including poetry, short stories, a novel, and scholarly criticism—contemplate illness as a problem for truth and representation in works that linger in silence and ambiguity. This article analyses the tension between silence and speech in Mpe’s creative writing in response to HIV/AIDS. Using Mpe’s works as an illustrative example, I trouble the desire to read illness narratives as forms of truth-telling and silence-breaking. The desire for the transparency of speech in a global archive of illness narratives also informs a colonial politics of representation that instrumentalizes literature as ethnographic evidence. Mpe’s writing on HIV/AIDS refuses a demand for authenticity by holding the embodied experience of disease at a slight remove from the reader in order to register the forms of spiritual and epistemological crisis that epidemic and social loss produce. My contention is that the political stakes of this writing lie not in Mpe’s ability to render a public health crisis with verisimilitude, but in the capacity for writing to provide solace and sublimity faced with death. Through an analysis of Mpe’s fiction and poetry, this article proposes a methodology for reading the politics of illness narratives across globalized space which attends to the world-building potential of creative expression as a radical practice that resists incorporative models of aesthetic intelligibility.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save.

• Get 10 units per month
• Download Article/Chapter or eBook
• 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
• Cancel anytime

Price includes VAT (Russian Federation)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Rent this article via DeepDyve

Institutional subscriptions

Anonymous. 2004. Nobody ever said aids reader notes. Amazwi South African Museum of Literature, Kwela Books Collection, Accession Number: 2004.38.7.3.

Anonymous. 2002. Castro Hlongwane, caravans, cats, geese, foot & mouth and statistics: HIV/Aids and the struggle for the humanisation of the African .

Attree, Lizzy. 2005. Already falling apart?  Wasafiri 20(46): 30–36.

Bhattacharya, Sourit. 2023. The postcolonial afterlife in South Africa: AIDS xenophobia and healing in Phaswane Mpe’s Welcome to Our Hillbrow . In Contagion narratives: The society, culture and ecology of the global south , eds. R. Sreejith Varma, and Ajanta Sircar, 108–121. New York: Routledge.

Cameron, Edwin. 2005. Witness to AIDS . Cape Town: Tafelberg Publishers.

Google Scholar  

Comaroff, Jean. 2007. Beyond bare life: AIDS, (bio)politics, and the neoliberal order.  Public Culture 19(1): 197–219.

Comaroff, Jean, and John L. Comaroff. 1997. Of revelation and revolution. Vol. 2: The dialectics of modernity on a South African frontier . Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press.

Davis, Emily S. 2013. Contagion, cosmopolitanism, and human rights in Phaswane Mpe’s Welcome to Our Hillbrow .  College Literature: A Journal of Critical Literary Studies 40(3): 99–112.

Fassin, Didier. 2007. When bodies remember: Experiences and politics of AIDS in South Africa . Berkeley: University of California Press.

Book   Google Scholar  

Foucault, Michel. 1990. The history of sexuality. Vol. 1 . Trans. Robert Hurley. New York: Vintage Books.

Foucault, Michel. 2003. Society must be defended: Lectures at the collège de france, 1975-1976 . Eds. Mauro Bertani and Alessandro Fontana. Trans. David Macey. New York: Picador.

Frenkel, Ronit. 2013. South African literary cartographies: A post-transitional palimpsest. Ariel: A Review of International English Literature 44(1): 25–44.

Green, Michael. 2008. Translating the nation: From Plaatje to Mpe.  Journal of Southern African Studies 34(2): 325–342.

Grünkemeier, Ellen. 2013. Breaking the silence: South African representations of HIV/AIDS . Suffolk: James Currey.

Hawley, John C. 2010. Reconciling citizenship, AIDS, and gayness in post-Apartheid South Africa. In Trauma, Resistance, Reconstruction in Post-1994 South African Writing , eds. Jaspal Kaur Singh and Rajendra Chetty, 187–202. New York: Peter Lang.

Hoad, Neville. 2005. Thabo Mbeki's AIDS Blues: The Intellectual, the Archive, and the Pandemic. Public Culture 17(1): 101–128.

Hoad, Neville. 2007. African intimacies: Race, homosexuality and globalization. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

López, María J. 2013. Communities of mourning and vulnerability: Zakes Mda’s Ways of Dying and Phaswane Mpe’s Welcome to Our Hillbrow .  English in Africa 40(1): 99–117.

Mandela, Nelson. 1994. Inaugural speech, Pretoria – 5/10/94 . University of Pennsylvania – African Studies Center. https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Inaugural_Speech_17984.html . Accessed 20 July 2024.

Mbali, Mandisa. 2004. AIDS discourses and the South African State: Government denialism and post-apartheid AIDS policy-making. Transformation: Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa 54: 104–122.

Mbali, Mandisa. 2019. South African AIDS activism: Lessons for high-impact global health advocacy. In Routledge Handbook on the Politics of Global Health , eds. Richard Parker, Jonathan García, 33–43. New York: Routledge.

Mbeki, Thabo. 2001. He wakened to his responsibilities. Speech at University of Fort Hare. South Africa History Archive, Treatment Action Campaign Collection, File B11.1.

McGregor, Liz. 2004. Obituary: Phaswane Mpe. The Guardian , 22 Dec. 2004. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/dec/22/guardianobituaries.southafrica . Accessed 3 June 2024.

Mpe, Phaswane. 2001. Welcome to our Hillbrow . Athens: Ohio University Press.

Mpe, Phaswane. 2002. Orality and literacy in an electronic era. In Refiguring the Archive , ed. C. Hamilton et al, 229–240. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Mpe, Phaswane. 2005. Healing with words: Phaswane Mpe interviewed by Lizzy Attree. Journal of Commonwealth Literature 40(3): 139–148. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021989405056978

Mpe, Phaswane. 2008a. Brooding clouds . Scottsville: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press.

Mpe, Phaswane. 2008b. God doesn’t smoke dagga. In Brooding Clouds , ed. Elana Bregin, 179–187. Scottsville: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press.

Mpe, Phaswane and Monica Seeber. 2000. The politics of book publishing in South Africa: A critical overview. In The Politics of Publishing in South Africa , edited by Nicholas Evans and Monica Seeber, 15–42. Scottsville: University of Natal Press.

Mwangi, Evan. 2009. Africa writes back to self: Metafiction, gender, sexuality . Albany, NY: SUNY Press.

Myambo, Melissa Tandiwe. 2011. Capitalism disguised as democracy: A theory of ‘belonging,’ not belongings, in the New South Africa.  Comparative Literature 63(1): 64–85.

Mzamane, Mbulelo. 2005. Words gone two soon: A tribute to Phaswane Mpe and K. Sello Duiker . Pretoria: Umgangatho Media & Communications.

Navarre, Max. 1988. Fighting the victim label. In October 43: 143–146. https://doi.org/10.2307/3397569

Patton, Cindy. 1990. Inventing “African AIDS.” New Formations 10: 25–39.

Robins, Steven. 2008. From Revolution to Rights in South Africa: Social Movements, NGOs & Popular Politics After Apartheid . Scottsville, South Africa: University of Kwazulu-Natal Press.

Posel, Deborah. 2004. “Getting the nation talking about sex”: Reflections on the discursive constitution of sexuality in South Africa since 1994. Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity No. 62 African Feminisms 2(1): 53–63.

Posel, Deborah. 2005. Sex, death and the fate of the nation: Reflections on the politicization of sexuality in post-Apartheid South Africa. Africa: Journal of the International African Institute 75(2): 125–153.

Poyner, Jane. 2008. Writing under pressure: A post-Apartheid canon?  Journal of Postcolonial Writing 44(2): 103–114.

Rasebotsa, Nobantu, Meg Samuelson, and Kylie Thomas, eds. 2004. Nobody ever said AIDS: Poems and stories from Southern Africa . Cape Town: Kwela Books.

Rastogi, Pallavi. 2020. Postcolonial disaster: Narrating catastrophe in the twenty-first century . Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University Press.

Steinberg, Jonny. 2011. An eerie silence. Foreign Policy 186: 84–87. https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/04/25/an-eerie-silence/

Thomas, Kylie. 2004. A better life for some: The loveLife campaign and HIV/AIDS in South Africa.  Agenda 18: 29-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/10130950.2004.9676198

Thomas, Kylie. 2014. Impossible mourning: HIV/AIDS and visuality after Apartheid. Lewisburg: Bucknell University Press.

Thornber, Karen Laura. 2020. Global healing: Literature, advocacy, care . Boston: Brill Rodopi.

Weiss, Bettina, ed. 2004. The end of unheard narratives: Contemporary perspectives on southern African literatures . Heidelberg: Kalliope Paperbacks.

Woods, Tim. 2013. South African literature in the time of AIDS.  The Journal of Commonwealth Literature 48(2): 305–324.

Download references

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the editors of the special issue, Marta Puxan Oliva and Jorge Locane, for the opportunity to develop this work. Thanks also to Geraldine Frieslaar and Nonhlanhla Mgedesi at the South Africa History Archive and Lynne Grant at the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature for allowing me to consult archival materials that informed this research. And finally, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Jeff Noh, Carmen Mathes, Steven Maye, Maddie Reddon and Judith Scholes for their feedback on this essay.

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Capilano University, North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Sheila Giffen

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sheila Giffen .

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest.

The author declares no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note.

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

1 Michael Green reads Mpe’s fiction alongside work by K. Sello Duiker and Zakes Mda and suggests these writers form “the kernel of a new canon for the new nation” ( 2008 , 334). Jane Poyner similarly groups Mpe within an emergent “post-apartheid canon” ( 2008 , 106) of novelists and writers who “turn their gaze inwards to the private sphere, to reflection and self-questioning” ( 2008 , 103) in contrast to the overtly political writings of the apartheid era.

2 As Mandisa Mbali summarizes, “Early into Mbeki’s presidency, in 2000, it became obvious that he and some key ministers had adopted denialist views that were referred to in the media as ‘dissident/unorthodox’ views on AIDS” ( 2004 , 105).

3 In his discussion of the controversies surrounding Mbeki’s AIDS policies, Neville Hoad points out that “In 2002, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang refused to disburse 72 million dollars for antiretrovirals to KwaZulu/Natal province from the Global Fund” ( 2007 , 91).

4 As Kylie Thomas observes “The policies of the apartheid state have significantly affected the course and magnitude of the epidemic in South Africa, and their effects have not been undone in the post-apartheid present. The epidemic in South Africa and even in southern Africa more broadly can be linked to what might be termed ‘apartheid fallout’ and in some instances forms of deprivation and oppression experienced under apartheid have been compounded in the wake of the implementation of neoliberal policies after 1994” ( 2014 , 152).

5 In an interview with Siphiwo Mahala, Mpe describes where he grew up and how this setting inspired the fictionalized village in the novel: “I stay in a chieftaincy called Ga-Molepo. I’m in one of many villages, it’s actually a huge chieftaincy. Probably one of the biggest in Limpopo and the village I come from is called Ga-Mogano. And Tiragalong of my novel is an imagined village which I based partly in this place and partly in another village [where I lived] with my aunt” (Mzamane 2005 , 47).

6 The term “rainbow nation” was first coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and then adopted by President Nelson Mandela to describe a spirit of multicultural peace and unity in the newly democratic nation-state. In his inaugural speech as President on 10 May 1994, Mandela asserted: “We enter into a covenant that we shall build the society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity—a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world” (Mandela 1994 ).

7 The constraints against the diseased woman writing in Sepedi extend from a legacy of apartheid-era education and publishing. As Phaswane Mpe and Monica Seeber argue, the Bantu Education Act (enacted in 1953) “created a space for the proliferation of African language publishing while simultaneously drastically reducing the scope of its themes and messages” ( 2000 , 19). The apartheid government supported African language publication for education purposes only and reinforced Afrikaner Christian moralism.

8 The epigraph to Welcome to Our Hillbrow cites W.E.B. DuBois saying, “Reader be assured this narrative is no fiction”. This quotation is best known for being the opening line of Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861). Jacobs’ preface begins: “Reader, be assured this narrative is no fiction. I am aware that some of my adventures may seem incredible; but they are, nevertheless, strictly true. I have not exaggerated the wrongs inflicted by Slavery; on the contrary, my descriptions fall far short of the facts.” Jacobs’ opening address to the reader anticipates being met with disbelief and a sentiment that what she’s written could not possibly be true. What horrors are beyond our capacity to imagine or narrate? How do the legacies of racial capital, colonialism, and enslavement pose a challenge to the bounds of representation? By citing African American writers who theorize racial abjection and the violence of white supremacy, Mpe evokes a diasporic imaginary linking histories of racial violence across continents.

9 In his essay “Fighting the Victim Label,” AIDS activist Max Navarre describes the abhorrent representation of people with AIDS in mainstream American press: “In the media, everyone’s a victim: of fire, of cancer, of mugging, of rape, of AIDS. In the world of reportage, no one is doing well. Victims sell newspapers. Does anyone consider the impact of this cult of the victim? Does anyone realize the power of the message ‘You are helpless, there is no hope for you’? As a person with AIDS, I can attest to the sense of diminishment at seeing and hearing myself constantly referred to as an AIDS victim, an AIDS sufferer, an AIDS case—as anything but what I am, a person with AIDS. I am a person with a condition. I am not that condition” ( 1988 , 143).

10 For a discussion of how the “Castro Hlongwane” document circulated within the ANC and informed AIDS denialist policies, see Posel ( 2005 ) and Mbali ( 2004 ).

11  In the remarks Thabo Mbeki made at the International AIDS Conference in Durban in July 2000, he emphasized the role that poverty plays in the spread of AIDS but did not specifically renounce AIDS dissident positions as many activists and public health workers hoped he would. Edwin Cameron notes that the “president left immediately after his [own] speech” and therefore “did not hear Nkosi’s brave and moving plea for humane and inclusive action to deal with the epidemic and to mitigate its effects on those with HIV and AIDS” ( 2005 , 108). A few months later at an address at the University of Fort Hare, Mbeki appeared to take aim more directly at the protestors who were campaigning for access to life-saving ARVs by saying: “And thus does it happen that others who consider themselves to be our leaders take to the streets carrying their placards, to demand that because we are germ carriers, and human beings of a lower order that cannot subject its passions to reason, we must perforce adopt strange opinions, to save a depraved and diseased people from perishing from self-inflicted disease” (Mbeki 2001 ).

12 Analyzing AIDS discourse in South Africa, Mandisa Mbali points out that “government AIDS denialism is a response to a history of racist understandings of African sexuality as inherently pathological in AIDS science” ( 2004 , 104). In his reading of race, medicine, and the colonial archive in Mbeki’s speeches, Neville Hoad observes that criticisms of Mbeki’s remarks seldom take into account the long history of colonial exploitation he engages: “The politics of cultural representation are equally problematic in a neoliberal world where imperial legacies are very much alive and the accusations of murderous incompetence leveled at the first democratically elected government of South Africa may bear the taint of colonial racism, as the A.N.C. government has been quick to point out” ( 2007 , 92). For Didier Fassin, the public discourse surrounding AIDS denial can lead to reductive binaries between rational science and irrational denial: “the intellectual landscape of the AIDS epidemic has been reduced to simple terms: on one side, medicine and science, people of goodwill and good sense, efficacy and truth; on the other, a president and a few dissidents, corrupt politicians and quack scientists, incompetence and error” ( 2007 , 76).

13 Written in March 2003, the short story was originally published in New Africa Books’ Urban ’03: Collected New African Short Stories, edited by Dave Chislett. The story was later posthumously published in the collection Brooding Clouds (2008).

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Giffen, S. Silent Speech in Phaswane Mpe’s HIV/AIDS Writing. J Med Humanit (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-024-09871-z

Download citation

Accepted : 12 June 2024

Published : 31 August 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-024-09871-z

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Silent speech
• Phaswane Mpe
• South African literature
• Biopolitics
• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research