AIDS: The Big Picture
As we commemorate another World AIDS Day, we are reminded of both the pitfalls and the progress of our fight against the still-too-prevalent epidemic first identified more than 40 years ago. Since that time, the fight has gone global, with millions battling HIV/AIDS within their nations, their communities, their families. Activists, politicians and celebrities have joined in the efforts to make AIDS awareness a priority and funding for research and medical development a necessity.
And, though the development of microbicides and similar medical advances may mean contracting the disease is not an automatic death sentence, the numbers are still alarming enough to warrant a continual call-to-arms and a ned to remain ever vigilant in fighting the development of new cases through prevention and awareness.
On this page, a gallery of some of the many ways we have commemorated that fight alongside those who must wage the battle for themselves or for their loved ones. May we emerge victorious.
- More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.
- Africa has 12 million AIDS orphans.
- At the end of 2006, women accounted for 50% of all adults living with HIV worldwide, and for 61% in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Young people (under 25 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide.
- In developing and transitional countries, 7.1 million people are in immediate need of life-saving AIDS drugs; of these, only 2.015 million (28%) are receiving the drugs.
- The number of people living with HIV has risen from around 8 million in 1990 to more than 33 million today, and is still growing.
- Around 69% of people living with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa.
| Region |
Living with HIV/AIDS |
Newly Infected |
Deaths |
| Sub-Saharan Africa |
22.5 million |
1.7 million |
1.6 million |
| North Africa & Middle East |
380,000 |
35,000 |
25,000 |
| South and South-East Asia |
4 million |
340,000 |
270,000 |
| East Asia |
800,000 |
92,000 |
32,000 |
| Oceania |
75,000 |
14,000 |
1,200 |
| Latin America |
1.6 million |
100,000 |
58,000 |
| Caribbean |
230,000 |
17,000 |
11,000 |
| Eastern Europe & Central Asia |
1.6 million |
150,000 |
55,000 |
| Western & Central Europe |
760,000 |
31,000 |
12,000 |
| North America |
1.3 million |
46,000 |
21,000 |
| Global Total |
33.2 million |
2.5 million |
2.1 million |
Sources: UNAIDS/WHO 2007 AIDS epidemic update
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