December 1 is World AIDS day

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 11/29/2010

MANILA, Philippines - As we celebrate World AIDS [Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome] Day on December 1, the World Health Organization (WHO) renews its call to raise awareness about the disease and demonstrate solidarity in the face of the pandemic.

"The Day is one of the most visible opportunities for public and private partners to spread awareness about the status of the pandemic and encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care in high prevalence countries and around the world," WHO said in its website.

Citing 2008 figures, WHO said some 33.4 million people are living with HIV, with 2.7 million newly infected with the virus and 2 million dying of AIDS.

Across regions, the group said sub-Saharan Africa is most affected, accounting for 67% of HIV infections and 72% of AIDS-related deaths worldwide in the said year.

Fortunately for the Philippines, there were no reported AIDS cases in the country last month, data from the Department of Health showed.

There was, however, a 30% rise in new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in the previous month at 104 from 80 in October 2009.

AIDS, a condition caused by HIV, causes a person's immune system to fail. In other words, a person with AIDS may die from diseases that are generally harmless to healthy people.

HIV is usually spread via sexual contact, but can also be acquired through the sharing of needles (for blood or drug transfusions, or from tattoo piercing).

There is no known cure yet for AIDS, but treatments that increase the quality of life of patients currently exist.