29 November 2010
More than 33.3 million people are living with HIV. Globally, AIDS is one of the leading causes of death among women of reproductive age - and a major cause of maternal and child mortality and ill health in high burden countries.
Wednesday 1 December marks World AIDS Day. It is a day to reaffirm our commitment to universal access to HIV prevention, AIDS treatment, care and support.
In pictures: Preventing the transmission of HIV from mothers to babies
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All photos ©Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Can't see them? View on Flickr
Significant progress has been made in curbing the spread of the epidemic. According to the UNAIDS the spread of HIV has halted with the number of new infections falling by 19% since 1999. The price of first line AIDS drugs has fallen considerably and more than five million people have access to life-saving antiretroviral treatment - a tenfold increase over five years.
In 33 countries HIV incidence has fallen by more than 25% between 2001 and 2009. Of these 22 are in sub-Saharan Africa, with the biggest epidemics – Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe – having either stabilised or showing signs of decline.
But major challenges remain. More than 67% of all people living with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa where the epidemic continues to be severe, and more than 14 million children have been left orphaned by the disease. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection where often they have double HIV infection rates than their male counterparts.
The impact of AIDS is enormous in sub-Saharan Africa and individuals, families and communities need to be supported to be able to cope with consequences of HIV and AIDS.
UKaid from the Department for International Development is committed to improving the health of poor people in developing countries - especially marginalised and vulnerable groups, including women and girls - to protect themselves from HIV and gain access to the treatment, care and support they need. Reducing maternal and infant mortality due to HIV is critical in achieving MDG 4 and 5 targets in countries with a high HIV burden.
Read the stories below to find out how the UK Government is supporting effective interventions on the ground - through the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, improving health care services, family planning, and addressing underlying factors that fuel the epidemic, such as gender-based violence and poverty.
How UKaid is helping to tackle HIV and AIDS