• HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has become one of the world’s most serious health and developmental challenges.
• Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, 60 million people have contracted HIV and 25 million have died of AIDS-related causes.
• An estimated 34 million people in the world were living with HIV in 2011.
• An estimated 2.5 million people worldwide were newly infected with HIV in 2011.
• An estimated 330,000 children were newly infected with HIV in 2011; 17.3 million children are AIDS orphans having lost one or both of their parents to HIV/AIDS.
• According to the UNAIDS Epidemic Update 2011, 57% of the estimated 1.5 million pregnant women living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries received effective antiretroviral drugs to avoid transmission to the children, up from 48 % in 2010.
• In 2009-2011, antiretroviral prophylaxis prevented 409,000 children from acquiring HIV in low- and middle-income countries.
• Young adults, ages 15-24, account for approximately 40% of new HIV infections in the world.
• Approximately 1.1 million people are living with HIV or AIDS in the United States. Over 20% do NOT know they are infected. Know your status by getting tested! June 27th is National HIV Testing Day.
• An American becomes infected with HIV every 9 ½ minutes, resulting in 56,000 new infections each year.
• Almost half of all Americans know someone living with HIV.

For the first time, the United States has a National HIV/AIDS Strategy. President Obama’s strategy calls for us to:

1. Prevent new HIV infections
2. Increase access to care and optimize health
3. Reduce HIV-related disease disparities

• There is no cure yet for HIV infection. However, effective treatment with antiretroviral drugs can control the virus so that people with HIV can enjoy healthy and productive lives.
• The CDC recommends Routine HIV testing for people between the ages of 13-64 in a health care setting.
• Despite treatment advances, only 37% of people who are HIV infected are retained in care. The most common reason cited by women: STIGMA and FEAR of discrimination.
• African Americans and Hispanics are disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS. African Americans accounted for 45% of new HIV infections in 2006 and 47% of those living with the disease, yet they make up only 12% of the U.S. population. Hispanics account for 17% of new infections yet comprise 15% of the U.S. population, while Caucasians represent 35% of new infections and account for 66% of the total population. (www.greaterthanone.org)
• Women are more likely to acquire the HIV virus through heterosexual contact.
• Among women, African American women account for the largest share of new HIV infections in 2009.
• 6 out of 10 new HIV infections among African American women and Hispanic women are among those ages 13-39 in 2009.
• As each generation comes of age and in order for them to remain productive and valuable members of society, it is essential that HIV prevention, treatment and research programs (such as the surveillance and testing initiatives, Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program) continue to be properly funded so that we can halt the spread of HIV and make available to everyone these life-saving drugs.
• Without any treatment or breast feeding, pregnant women have a 25% chance (1 out of 4) of transmitting HIV onto their babies. This risk is decreased to 2% with treatment with antiretroviral therapy before and during delivery, and for baby after delivery.
• The monthly medical cost for people with HIV, from the time of beginning appropriate care until death, is estimated to be $2,100 on average.
  www.medicalnewstoday.com
• The lifetime per person HIV care cost is estimated at $367,000 per person. Source: CDC
• In the last 17 years alone, the Women’s HIV Program at the Infectious Disease Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital has saved the medical system over $150 million dollars by preventing HIV in over 410 babies.