HIV and AIDS

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The right to life and dignity in the face of HIV and AIDS is another of ActionAid’s core themes. In many countries the human and economic costs of HIV and AIDS are undermining national development and most people who need treatment are still unable to afford it.  Further, funds committed by donors still fall far short of the amounts required to deal with the epidemic.

Some facts

  • More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981. 
  • At the end of 2007, there were 33.2 million people worldwide living with HIV and AIDS, 22.5 million of whom were in Sub-Saharan Africa. 
  • At the end of 2006, women accounted for 50% of all adults living with HIV worldwide and 61% in Sub Saharan Africa. 
  • Asia is expected to overtake Africa eventually in terms of affected population and emerging epidemics are being predicted in Latin America.  

Already overburdened and under funded, health and social service systems in developing countries are unable to meet the needs of people living with HIV and AIDS or undertake the activities needed to prevent transmission of the virus.  In countries with high prevalence of HIV and AIDS, women often experience violence, unjust inheritance practices and have difficulty negotiating safe sex, all of which put them at increased risk of infection.

Key pillars of our work on HIV and AIDS

  • Facilitating access to treatment and care
  • Supporting sustainable livelihoods
  • Creating an enabling policy environment
  • Working with people living with HIV and AIDS and strengthening organisations run by people living with HIV and AIDS. 

HIV and AIDS is a cross cutting theme in ActionAid Ireland’s women’s rights programme which is being implemented in Kenya, Malawi, Nepal and Vietnam. 

Some of our programme activities on HIV and AIDS include

  • In Kenya, women’s groups and community groups are raising awareness of the links between gender inequality, including some traditional cultural practices, and HIV and AIDS.
  • In Malawi, a coalition of women living with HIV and AIDS is being strengthened to engage in advocacy activities and to provide support at community level to people caring for family members with HIV and AIDS.
  • In Nepal, women’s rights groups have received training on the links between gender inequality and HIV and AIDS and centres have been established to provide counselling and support services to women experiencing violence and/or living with HIV and AIDS.