Essay --

Sadruddin Jiwani HIV/AIDS Introduction: HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a disease of the human immune system, which is caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus. To understand it in a better way, let us break it down: H - Human - This specific virus can only infect human beings. I - Immunodeficiency - It weakens the immune system of the body by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. A â€Å"deficient† immune system cannot protect you. V - Virus - A virus can only reproduce itself by taking over a cell in the body of its host. HIV is similar to other viruses like the common cold or the "flu". The main difference between the other viruses and HIV is that, the immune system can clear most viruses out of the human body, but it is not case with HIV. The human immune system cannot eradicate it, since the target of this virus is the immune system itself. Researchers are being conducted to figure out the reason for it. An infected person may experience a brief period of influenza-like disability, during the starting phase, followed by a prolonged period without any syndrome. As the disability progresses, it deteriorates the immune system more and more, making it more prone to get diseases, such as tumors and opportunistic infections which may prove to be fatal to the infected person. AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Let us break it down, to understand it in a better way: A - Acquired - AIDS is not inherited from the ancestors. It is acquired after birth. I - Immune - All the ... ...ld Health Organization (WHO) report shows that, most people living with HIV or at risk for HIV do not have access to treatment, care and prevention and there is still no cure. In spite of these challenges, there have been successes. Global efforts have been made to address the epidemic, specifically in the last decade. The HIV prevalence rates have been reduced in a small but growing number of countries due to prevention and new HIV infections are believed to be on the decline. In addition to this, the number of people with HIV receiving treatment in resource poor countries has increased 10 times since 2002, nearing an estimated 4 million by 2008. In U.S, not every healthcare provider is equipped to provide specialty care to people living with HIV. But if a provider cannot provide treatment for your HIV disease, the same person should refer you to someone who can.