AIDS, which has been listed as a pandemic, began in Africa and spread throughout the world in no time. AIDS is a strange dilemma since humanity has triumphed most of the virus-based diseases, however, has failed to overcome the Human Immunodeficiency Virus that has ravaged millions across the globe. In 2015 alone, 2.1 million new individuals became infected with AIDS; most them shockingly were children. As of June 2016, according to the latest statistics, 36.7 million people were living with AIDS globally, most of them in sub-Saharan African and third world nations of Asia such as Bangladesh and Pakistan.

We have understood that the war against AIDS is not just a biological one that is fought in research labs, but more of a socioeconomic war, a war against poverty and ignorance. It requires global health organizations to gather and mobilize a vast number of resources to stem the rising tide of AIDS as much as it requires generous and conscience led pouring of money and non-monetary donations by governments and private charities.

Let us take a look at who is at the forefront of fighting the long hard and uphill war against AIDS.

International AIDS Society

Founded in the year 1988, IAS or the International AIDS Society has been prominent in its efforts to stop the spread of the disease. It is the largest organization so far and has hundreds of full-time members as well as volunteers across countries, more than 180 of them who are working on all fronts to stop AIDS from spreading. The main objective of the IAS is to put every best possible effort in its war against AIDS on a global front by use of medical technology and expertise, strong financial backing and also a bit of political support. They are also known for conducting two most notable HIV conferences, namely the International AIDS conference as well as the IAS Conference on HIV Science.

UNAIDS

UNAIDS is the official body of the United Nations that leads the Joint United Nations Programme On HIV/AIDS that carries out some activities to fight AIDS including educating masses in various countries, including against discrimination. It brings under its umbrella, the following organizations of the United Nation, namely  UNHCR, UN Women, WFP, UNFPA, UNODC,  UNESCO,  UNDP,  UNICEF, ILO, the WHO as well as the World Bank. Also, it works in tandem with other major health players in the world to carry out its various anti-AIDS measures. It is aiming towards its 2030 goal of preventing AIDS altogether under its Sustainable Developmental Goals agenda.

World Health Organization

It is another UN agency and is not particularly directed to fight against AIDS, but health issues in general. However, its contributions in fighting against the disease have been phenomenal. WHO focuses on AIDS in the third world and more specifically the sub-Saharan African nations with its offices present in more than 150 nation’s world over.

WHO staff is known to work alongside local government workers and for partnering with other health organizations. WHO provides services that include prevention of AIDS, prevention of effects of AIDS as well as education in its list of high incidence countries. WHO is also at the forefront when it comes to distributing anti-AIDS drugs.

These three organizations are leading the crusade against AIDS and have been greatly successful in quelling the disease to a great degree. Let us hope that all our efforts come to fruition in the right frame of time and our future generations get to live in a world free of AIDS.