HIV/AIDS access options
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, can lead to a disease known as AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV attacks and the immune system's cells, especially CD4 cells (also known as T-cells). The immune system becomes weakened and if left untreated can make one increasingly vulnerable to infections or infection-related cancers. AIDS is the final stage of the HIV infection, where there is a low number of remaining CD4 cells and the immune system is no longer able to fight off infections and diseases. Whilst the human body cannot get rid of the virus completely and there is currently no cure for HIV, when promptly and properly treated patients... Read more » can live a healthy life. Furthermore, chances of the disease being transmitted can be lowered. At the end of 2015, approximately 36.7 million people worldwide were living with HIV/AIDS. Of these people, 2.1 million infections happened in 2015 and 1.8 million were children below 15 years of age. Globally, only 60% of people with HIV know their status; however, the number of people living with HIV and receiving treatment (antiretroviral therapy (ART)) is increasing.
