AIDS and Disease

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes the fatal disease called Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV attacks the immune system, resulting in a chronic, progressive illness that leaves infected people vulnerable to opportunistic fatal infections, illnesses, and cancers. The median time from infection to AIDS diagnosis now exceeds 10 years. AIDS is fatal if left untreated and there is no cure! Currently, the government of Canada is taking a federal initiative of engaging the following organizations:

• Public Health Agency of Canada;
• The Canadian Institutes of Health Canada;
• The Canadian Institutes of Health Research;
• and the Correctional Services of Canada.

The initiatives aim is to prevent the spread of the deadly disease, slow progression, and improve the quality of life for those people infected with HIV and AIDS. This strategic initiative also focuses on those people most affected and prone to HIV and AIDS, such as, people who use injection drugs, youth at risk, aboriginal people, homosexuals, and people from countries for where HIV is an endemic.

The epidemic of HIV and AIDS is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. As this fatal disease continues to spread through globalization there is virtually no country left that’s remains unaffected. According to the United Nations and other World Health Organizations there were approximately 34 million people living with HIV in 2007. Challenges the world needs to overcome in order to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS are inadequate funding, weak infrastructure, and shortages of health workers in the worst affected countries. In addition, political or cultural attitudes are a major obstacle. For instance, some authorities are opposed to condom promotion, while others refuse to support needle exchanges for injecting drug users. Many are reluctant to provide young people with the proper education or education an education at all about sex and sexual health. Thus, because of this cultural attitude it is impossible to create awareness of the issue let alone solve it. Another very serious issue is stigma and discrimination. People known to be living with this deadly disease are often shunned or abused by community members, employers, friends, and even health workers. As well as causing much personal suffering, this sort of prejudice discourages people from seeking HIV testing, treatment and care. A wide range of interventions, including a strong commitment to preventing new HIV infections as well as treating people already infected, is necessary to tackle the global AIDS epidemic.

Canada has responded to this global crisis through the Canadian HIV vaccine initiative which contributes to global efforts to accelerate the development of safe, effective, and globally accessible preventions of HIV and AIDS.