- HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus – the name ‘HIV’ was officially adopted in 1986
- On 5 June 1981, the first case study detailing an unusual cluster of pneumonia cases among gay men alerted the world to AIDS.
- Advances have been made in the treatment of the disease, most notably with the introduction of HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment) – a combination of different types of HIV therapy with different modes of action
- According to estimates by UNAIDS, 33.3 million adults and children were living with HIV at the end of 20091
- Sub-Saharan Africa, low income countries and least developed countries together are home to 80% of all people living with HIV
- In 2009, worldwide there were an estimated 1.8 million AIDS-related deaths. This is a decrease from the peak of 2.1 million deaths in 20041
- Although the number of new infections is reducing, the level overall is still high – globally 2.6 million people were newly infected in 20091
- Globally, women and girls represent slightly more than 50% of people living with HIV
- Globally, the total number of children being born with HIV is falling, but still an estimated 370,000 children were newly infected with HIV in 20091
- Surprisingly, given the scale of the epidemic, comprehensive knowledge about HIV among young men and women aged 15–24 years is low – just 34%1
- T he red ribbon is recognised worldwide as a symbol of solidarity with people whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS
1 UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic 2010