UPSC Articles
World AIDS Day 2020
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health
In news
- The World AIDS Day is observed on 1st December every year all over the world.
Key takeaways
- It was founded in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Theme for 2020: “Global solidarity, resilient HIV services.”
- In 2019, 6,90,000 people died from HIV-related causes and 1.7 million people were newly infected, with nearly 62% of these new infections occurring among key populations and their partners.
Important value addition
- AIDS is a pandemic disease caused by the infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which damages the human immune system.
- It is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition.
- By damaging immune system, HIV interferes with the body’s ability to fight infection and disease.
- The virus can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen or vaginal fluids.
- AIDS symptoms include weight loss, fever or night sweats, fatigue and recurrent infections.
- No cure exists for AIDS.
- Strict adherence to antiretroviral regimens (ARVs) can slow the disease’s progress and prevent secondary infections and complications.
