World AIDS Day: Key Facts and Figures About HIV/AIDS

World AIDS Day is an event held annually on December 1 to commemorate the global stance against the deadly epidemic that is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). According to a CNN report, a total of 1.5 million deaths were recorded globally in 2013 alone. What is even more petrifying is the addition of  2.1 million infections in that same year. There is a fight alright, a fight that can be won in unity as we spread awareness and support scientific research efforts across the various continents. Read on for more important facts about the disease in Nigeria and internationally: 1. AIDS emerges at the advanced stages of a Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) infection. It is identified in a patient by the occurrence of at least one of 20 infections or cancers caused by the virus. 2. In 1988, the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention published reports of men suffering from cancer and pneumonia, with “opportunistic infections”  in urban cities of  Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. The disease was named AIDS the following year. 3. It was scientifically proven by French and American researchers in 1983 that HIV is the sole cause of AIDS. 4. Contrary to popular belief, HIV cannot be transmitted through contact with the tears, sweat or saliva of an infected person. It is primarily transmitted through sexual intercourse, trasnfusion of infected blood, sharing of infected needles and transmission between mother and child during pregnancy and breastfeeding. 5. As of 2014, 36.9 million people live with HIV as cited by the World Health Organisation. Approximately 9% live in Nigeria, with 3.2 million patients recorded in 2013. 6. The World Health Organisation reports that a total of 15 million people are using antiretroviral therapy drugs globally. 13.5 million live in low or middle income countries like Nigeria. 7. Unprotected heterosexual sex accounts for about 80% of new HIV infections in Nigeria. 8. In 2010, only 17% of infected homosexual men in Nigeria were reached with HIV prevention programming due to discouragement of opening up from homophobia. There is also major concern by researchers and advocates that Nigeria’s new law – passed in 2014 – which punishes apprehended homosexuals with 14 years in jail, is a greater cause for secrecy and silent suffering of patients. 9. 19% of male sex workers and 25% of female sex workers in Nigeria are living with HIV. 10. HIV is the strongest risk factor for developing active tuberculosis. In fact, Nigeria is one of ten countries in the world with 80% of patients living with HIV and TB.1.   To find out more about HIV/AIDS and its prevalence in Nigeria, visit www.avert.org.     Sources: Avert Organisation, CNN and WHO  

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This article was first published on 1st December 2015

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