Intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations have spearheaded the prevention of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in the global community, resulting in numerous successes but looming challenges still exist.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, also known as AIDS, is a transmittable immune system disease that is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus which is commonly referred to as HIV. AIDS was first discovered in 1981 by medical specialists in California and New York. Initially, most discovered cases of the disease were contracted by homosexual men participating in unsafe sexual practices or intravenous drug users. In the 1980s, HIV and AIDS made it to uncontrollable numbers particularly in Africa where it was concluded that the disease originated from. HIV/AIDS is transmitted through the contact of bodily liquids between infected and non-infected individuals. Additionally, it can be spread intravenously by sharing needles and syringes with infected individuals. Ultimately, unprotected sexual intercourse with an HIV or AIDS infected individual is the primary means for the transmission of the disease internationally. An overall cure or effective suppressant for the transmission of HIV or AIDS has yet to be found by medical professionals. Medication has only been established to deal with the symptoms of the disease and improve the quality of life of the infected individual. Efforts to keep the spread of HIV and AIDS to a minimum revolves around promoting safe sexual practices, promoting sexual abstinence, encouraging the use of condoms and teaching individuals about safe intravenous medication utilization. The number of infected individuals with HIV and AIDS typically increases in poverty stricken environments. Characteristically common for any medical epidemic, HIV or AIDS progression is shadowed by calamity. The variant degree of calamity has ranged from wreaking havoc on the homosexual male community to the undermining and isolation of infected individuals or nations with high cases of infected people. Activists encourage governments and local prominent organizations within the community to support research, provide information to their constituents regarding the disease, provide comprehensive treatment as well as quality preventive education on HIV/AIDS. Support groups such as such as the Aids Support Group of Cape Cod, provide an assortment of services to HIV/AIDS infected individuals. These services include access to meals, nursing care, counseling, extended medical care, legal services, medical information on how to live with the disease, housing and supportive associations.
Individuals infected with HIV or AIDS are denied a normal quality of life due to social exiling. They are commonly denied quality education and medical attention due to the fear of the disease. Some HIV or AIDS infected individuals even lose their jobs once their condition is revealed. Individuals suffering with HIV or AIDS are commonly loathed and stigmatized by their family, friends and their community. They are also abused institutionally and even autonomously. HIV/AIDS related discrimination manifests from the lack of information provided to uninfected individuals and strengthens their existing prejudices. The prejudices derived from a lack of information can lead to social injustices, an isolation of specific group and a minimization of their existing plight. This is why intervention on a global scale is required. The isolation and inadequate care of HIV/AIDS infected individuals can be deemed as barbaric and unhuman is some locations. The lack of international attention or global governance initially contributed to its rapid spread in destitute areas.
There are numerous intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations working towards the elimination of HIV/AIDS globally. One specific and notable nongovernmental organization involved in the prevention of HIV/AIDS is the Kaiser Family Foundation. The Kaiser Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization based out of California that focuses on major health issues plaguing the nation. It was founded in 1948 and has taken an active role in creating global health policies by providing political analysis, informative journalism and relative information to the public, policy makers and health care community. The Kaiser Family Foundation has aided in the improved treatment of HIV/AIDS infected individuals by providing creditable information regarding the transmission of the disease. Another organization that has spearheaded the assault against HIV/AIDS prevention is the International AIDS Society. They International AIDS Society, also known as IAS, was founded in 1988 and is considered the largest global organization of HIV/AIDS related professionals. It has member from over 180 different countries internationally working in response to the current HIV/AIDS epidemic. The IAS also established two internationally prestigious conferences focused on finding a cure for HIV/AIDS, improving the quality of life of infected individuals and leading the advancements of knowledge related to HIV/AIDS.
The overall financial burden for local governments and request for international participation resulted in the development of numerous globally operated private organizations. While intergovernmental organizations were still established to aid in the prevention of HIV/AIDS, nongovernmental organizations led the way in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations such as the Kaiser Family Foundation and the IAS have contributed to numerous international successes in the fight against HIV/AIDS. These successes include sexual behavior changes that were associated with HIV/AIDS reduction through education, a decline partner and birth related infections, international access to quality and affordable medical care and a decrease in HIV/AIDS cases in poverty stricken areas such as Africa. The extensive medical research of HIV/AIDS has advanced from just maintaining the symptoms of the disease to solidified steps towards finding an effective cure. Several strides have been made in the medical research of HIV/AIDS such as finding responsive elements within the disease that can ultimately generate a cure.
Although numerous advancements have been made to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS with the help of various nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations, many challenges still remain. In the last decade, the amount of information disseminated to the public has reduced due to attention being diverted to medical research. Public activism and campaigns that reminded the public and the medical community that the epidemic of HIV/AIDS still existed has been reduced due to financial constraints. International law enforcement, intervention and mitigation in rural or destitute areas such as Africa has been limited which has resulted in more women and children being infected by the disease.
Although many successes have been garner in the fight against HIV and AIDS through the actions of nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations, many challenges still remain. Accomplishing the prevention or elimination of HIV and AIDS requires constant information pushed out to the public that this disease still exist, continued medial research and enforcement in destitute areas where HIV/AIDS runs rampage.