Some facts about HIV/AIDS

There can be few who do not understand that AIDS is a life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The effect of HIV is that it interferes with your body’s ability to fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease. You will become more susceptible to certain kinds of cancer and to others that your body would normally resist without difficulty, these include pneumonia and meningitis. The infection is known as HIV, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)” is the name given to the later stages of an HIV infection.

Current estimates suggest that nearly 40 million people worldwide are suffering the virus and although in many countries the spread of the virus has slowed, in others it has escalated or remained unchanged. Education about the disease and how it is spread are though to be the best way to tackle the problem and regular testing of those who are at risk or sexually active with multiple partners is wise. Testing centres in London and the other major cities is a simple and completely confidential service that is readily available to all.