A little boy had just
found out that his dad
had died from AIDS.

Source: CLICK HERE

Effects

The effects of HIV/AIDS

HIV can change your life drastically. Acquiring HIV, for most people, changes you as a person - the way you act and feel. This epidemic has affected the lives of many people, and here is how:

Health impact

Once a person has been infected with HIV, the virus immediately starts looking for a home to setup camp and reproduce; it finds its home in a part of your immune system.

The immune system is made up of many types of cells, all with different jobs to perform in order to fight off invading A single-celled, often parasitic microorganism without distinct nuclei or organized cell structures. Various species are responsible for decay, fermentation, nitrogen fixation, and many plant and animal diseases.bacteria, A single-celled or multicellular organism without chlorophyll that reproduces by spores and lives by absorbing nutrients from organic matter. Fungi include mildews, moulds, mushrooms, rusts, smuts, and yeasts.fungi, A submicroscopic parasitic particle of a nucleic acid surrounded by protein that can only replicate within a host cell. Viruses are not considered to be independent living organisms.viruses and the like. Specifically, HIV invades a cell known as a helper T-cell. These cells are very important as they issue instructions to the other cells as well as helping to fight off certain infections.

HIV invades these T-cells and uses them as its home for The process of repeating, duplicating, or reproducing something.replication. During the replication process, the T-cell becomes ineffective and, once the replication process is complete the T-cell is usually destroyed. A healthy person has between 800 and 1200 T-cells per cubic millimeter of blood. However, when the virus begins to destroy these cells, that number begins to fall. When it falls below 200 per cubic mm of blood, the body starts to lose the ability to fight off infections.

People with AIDS often suffer infections of the lungs, The part of the digestive system between the stomach and the anus or cloaca that digests and absorbs food.intestinal tract, brain, eyes and other organs. Although AIDS is Causing or capable of causing death.fatal, it may take many years for the HIV virus to destroy enough T-cells to develop AIDS. New medications help a HIV-positive person to stay relatively healthy and symptom-free for a long time. However, these medications are costly and not always available.

A rural community. Most
of these children have contracted
AIDS from their parents.

Source: CLICK HERE

Economic impact

AIDS leaves many people without jobs. This not only leaves their families without money, but also leaves a smaller skilled labour force which can halt economic growth. In a typical home situation, it is the parents who work for money in order to provide food, shelter and clothing for their children. However, if the parents are ill and cannot work, there is no source of income to pay for these Something that is essential, especially a basic requirement.necessities. Also, if one or both of the parents were to pass away, the price of funeral costs could be very high for the household.

A study done in three countries, Burkina Faso, Rwanda and Uganda, has calculated that AIDS will not only reverse progress in poverty reduction, but will also increase the percentage of people living in extreme poverty (from 45% in 2000 to 51% in 2015).

Social impact

From the moment scientists discovered HIV and AIDS, discrimination has spread quickly, causing anxiety and A preformed opinion, usually an unfavourable one, based on insufficient knowledge, irrational feelings, or inaccurate stereotypes.prejudice. HIV is as much a social problem as it is a medical concern. Around the world, HIV has brought about responses of compassion, Harmony of interests and responsibilities among individuals in a group, especially as manifested in unanimous support and collective action for something.solidarity and support, bringing out the best in people, their families and their communities. However, the disease is also associated with a The shame or disgrace attached to something regarded as socially unacceptable.stigma of The process of suppressing a population, or the condition of having political, social, or cultural freedom controlled by force or military means.repression and Unfair treatment of one person or group, usually because of prejudice about race, ethnicity, age, religion, or gender.discrimination,as some of those affected have been rejected by their families, their loved ones and their communities.