KATHMANDU, DEC 1: December 1st is observed as ‘World AIDS Day’ around the world and the spread of HIV/AIDS has become a real danger across the world. The virus launches a direct attack on your immune system and gradually weakens your natural defenses against disease and infection.

Every year, the number of people suffering from the virus is increasing. Every day, medical science is trying to come up with new techniques to counter the virus but still HIV/AIDS remains one of the most significant public health challenges in the world, particularly in low and middle-income countries. An estimated 36.9 million people globally have the virus.

If we look at the statistics in Nepal, a total of 26,702 people; including 16,701 males, 9,942 females and 59 transgenders; are infected with the virus. 1,967 children below 14 years; 9,269 people between the age of 15-29; 14,152 people between the age of 30-49 and 1,314 people above 50 are suffering from the deadly disease.

AIDS is the second biggest cause of death among adolescents globally; and a shocking number of twenty-six new infections occur every hour around the world. According to a UNICEF report, the numbers of people dying from AIDS have tripled since 2000.

Here are some of the most common activities that could risk HIV infection:

– Sexual contact that involves semen, vaginal fluids or blood.
– Direct blood contact, particularly through sharing injection drug needles or ‘works’ (cotton, cookers, etc).
– Infections due to blood transfusions, accidents in health care settings or certain blood products are possible.
– Mother to baby (before or during birth, or through breast milk).

Watch this video below to easily understand about HIV/AIDS better.