aids day essay in english

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aids day essay in english

What is World AIDS Day?

Each year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.

Each World AIDS Day focuses on a specific theme, which this year will be Let Communities Lead . Because change depends not on a moment but on a movement, the message “Let Communities Lead” will not only ring out on one day. It will be at the core of activities that will build up across November, see the release of the World AIDS Day Report – entitled Let Communities Lead – in late November, reach a crescendo on World AIDS Day on 1 December, and continue to echo throughout December and beyond.

This year’s theme joins a growing list of challenges that World AIDS Day has alerted people to globally. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever international day for global health. Every year, United Nations agencies, governments and civil society join together to campaign around specific themes related to HIV.

  • Awareness-raising activities take place around the globe.
  • Many people wear a red ribbon, the universal symbol of awareness of, support for and solidarity with people living with HIV. 
  • People living with HIV make their voice heard on issues important in their lives.
  • Groups of people living with HIV and other civil society organizations involved in the AIDS response mobilize in support of the communities they serve and to raise funds.
  • Events highlight the current state of the epidemic.

World AIDS Day remains as relevant today as it’s always been, reminding people and governments that HIV has not gone away. There is still a critical need for increased funding for the AIDS response, to increase awareness of the impact of HIV on people’s lives, to end stigma and discrimination and to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV.

2023    Let Communities Lead

2022    Equalize

2021    End inequalities. End AIDS. End pandemics.

2020    Global solidarity, shared responsibility

2019    Communities make the difference

2018    Know your status

2017    My health, my right

2016    Hands up for HIV prevention

2015    On the Fast-Track to end AIDS

2014    Close the gap

2013    Zero discrimination

2012    Together we will end AIDS

2011    Getting to zero

2010    Universal access and human rights

2009    Universal access and human rights

2008    Stop AIDS. Keep the promise—lead, empower, deliver

2007    Stop AIDS. Keep the promise—leadership

2006    Stop AIDS. Keep the promise—accountability

2005    Stop AIDS. Keep the promise

2004    Women, girls, HIV and AIDS

2003    Stigma and discrimination

2002    Stigma and discrimination

2001    I care, do you?

2000    AIDS: men make a difference

1999    Listen, learn, live! World AIDS campaign with children and young people

1998    Force for change—world AIDS campaign with young people

1997    Children living in a world of AIDS

1996    One world, one hope

1995    Shared rights, shared responsibilities

1994    AIDS and the family

1993    Time to act

1992    AIDS—a community commitment

1991    Sharing the challenge

1990    Women and AIDS

1989    Our lives, our world—let’s take care of each other

1988    A world united against AIDS

aids day essay in english

2023 / Let Communities Lead

aids day essay in english

2022 / Equalize

aids day essay in english

2021 / End inequalities. End AIDS....

aids day essay in english

2020 / Global solidarity, shared...

aids day essay in english

2019 / Communities make the...

aids day essay in english

2018 / Know your status

aids day essay in english

2017 / My health, my right

aids day essay in english

2016 / Hands up for HIV prevention

aids day essay in english

2015 / On the Fast-Track to end AIDS

aids day essay in english

2014 / Close the gap

aids day essay in english

2013 / Zero discrimination

aids day essay in english

2012 / Together we will end AIDS

aids day essay in english

2011 / Getting to zero

Essay on AIDS for Students and Children

500+ words essay on aids.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or better known as AIDS is a life-threatening disease. It is one of the most dreaded diseases of the 20 th century. AIDS is caused by HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which attacks the immune system of the human body. It has, so far, ended more than twenty-nine million lives all over the world. Since its discovery, AIDS has spread around the world like a wildfire. It is due to the continuous efforts of the Government and non-government organizations; AIDS awareness has been spread to the masses.

essay on aids

AIDS – Causes and Spread

The cause of AIDS is primarily HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus replicates itself into the human body by inserting a copy of its DNA into the human host cells. Due to such property and capability of the virus, it is also known as a retrovirus. The host cells in which the HIV resides are the WBCs (White Blood Cells) that are the part of the Human Immune system.

HIV destroys the WBCs and weakens the human immune system. The weakening of the immune system affects an individual’s ability to fight diseases in time. For example, a cut or a wound takes much more time to heal or the blood to clot. In some cases, the wound never heals.

HIV majorly transmits in one of the three ways – Blood, Pre-natal and Sexual transmission. Transfusion of HIV through blood has been very common during the initial time of its spread. But nowadays all the developed and developing countries have stringent measures to check the blood for infection before transfusing. Usage of shared needles also transmits HIV from an infected person to a healthy individual.

As part of sexual transmission, HIV transfers through body fluids while performing sexual activity. HIV can easily be spread from an infected person to a healthy person if they perform unprotective sexual intercourse through oral, genital or rectal parts.

Pre-natal transmission implies that an HIV infected mother can easily pass the virus to her child during pregnancy, breastfeeding or even during delivery of the baby.

AIDS – Symptoms

Since HIV attacks and infects the WBCs of the human body, it lowers the overall immune system of the human body and resulting in the infected individual, vulnerable to any other disease or minor infection. The incubation period for AIDS is much longer as compared to other diseases. It takes around 0-12 years for the symptoms to appear promptly.

Few of the common symptoms of AIDS include fever , fatigue, loss of weight, dysentery, swollen nodes, yeast infection, and herpes zoster. Due to weakened immunity, the infectious person falls prey to some of the uncommon infections namely persistent fever, night sweating, skin rashes, lesions in mouth and more.

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AIDS – Treatment, and Prevention

Till date, no treatment or cure is available for curing AIDS, and as a result, it is a life-threatening disease. As a practice by medical practitioners, the best way to curb its spread is antiretroviral therapy or ART. It is a drug therapy which prevents HIV from replicating and hence slows down its progress. It is always advisable to start the treatment at the earliest to minimize the damage to the immune system. But again, it is just a measure and doesn’t guarantee the cure of AIDS.

AIDS prevention lies in the process of curbing its spread. One should regularly and routinely get tested for HIV. It is important for an individual to know his/her own and partner’s HIV status, before performing any sexual intercourse activity. One should always practice safe sex. Use of condoms by males during sexual intercourse is a must and also one should restrict oneself on the number of partners he/she is having sex with.

One should not addict himself/herself to banned substances and drugs. One should keep away from the non-sterilized needles or razors.  Multiple awareness drives by the UN, local government bodies and various nonprofit organizations have reduced the risk of spread by making the people aware of the AIDS – spread and prevention.

Life for an individual becomes hell after being tested positive for AIDS. It is not only the disease but also the social stigma and discrimination, felling of being not loved and being hated acts as a slow poison. We need to instill the belief among them, through our love and care, that the HIV positive patients can still lead a long and healthy life.

Though AIDS is a disease, which cannot be cured or eradicated from society, the only solution to AIDS lies in its prevention and awareness. We must have our regular and periodical health checkup so that we don’t fall prey to such deadly diseases. We must also encourage and educate others to do the same. With the widespread awareness about the disease, much fewer adults and children are dying of AIDS. The only way to fight the AIDS disease is through creating awareness.

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World AIDS Day Message

30 November 2022 | Statements

PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

  World AIDS Day Message

[No Embargo]

The goal to end AIDS by 2030 is badly off track.

Inequalities, discrimination, and disregard for human rights are hampering our progress.

We must address these challenges that have kept HIV/AIDS as a global health crisis for more than forty years.

There is a science-based path to ending AIDS. Regrettably, it is not available to all.

This World AIDS Day, I join the call to “Equalize”.

We need urgent measures to end inequalities that make people vulnerable to infection.

If the international community acts, 3.6 million new HIV-infections and 1.7 million AIDS-related deaths will be prevented this decade.

The General Assembly’s 2021 Political Declaration on AIDS features global commitments and targets for 2025 that are ambitious, but achievable for Governments and communities.

I call on all Member States and stakeholders to renew their political and financial commitments to ending AIDS.

We must ensure universal access to evidence-informed services, such as testing and treatment, as well as global cooperation on new technologies.

International solidarity in the form of sustainable funding is also crucially needed.

If we make efforts to equalize, we will get back on track to leave no one behind.

The AIDS crisis is ripe for solutions based on science, solidarity and sustainability. I invite everyone to join the call and to take action.

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  • Essay on AIDS

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HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is an infection that causes cells in the body that help it fight infections, making a person more susceptible to other infections and diseases. Interaction with certain bodily secretions of an HIV-positive individual, most commonly during unprotected intercourse (sex without the use of a condom or HIV treatment to prevent or treat HIV), or sharing injection drug equipment spreads the virus.

If HIV is not treated, it can progress to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV cannot be eradicated by the human body, and there is no effective HIV cure. As a result, whether you have HIV, you will have it for the rest of your life.

Long and Short AIDS Essay in English

There are many diseases causing microorganisms, like bacteria, viruses, fungi etc. The symptoms of the diseases depend on the type of microorganism that is spreading it. It can vary from mild to severe. AIDS which stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is a viral disease that is rampant in growth. It was only in the last century that this viral disease has proved to be lethal and fatal, taking away about twenty million lives globally. The awareness about the disease and the virus causing it which is HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is more now compared to earlier. In this HIV AIDS essay, we can go through the important information about it and burst some myths.

Below are different ways to write an AIDS essay in English. The essay on HIV AIDS can be of 2 formats, a long essay on HIV AIDS or a short AIDS essay.

Short Essay on Aids

This AIDS essay is a brief one and will cover the important notes about the disease and the ways one can prevent it.

The way of occurrence of this disease is in the name itself, AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. The disease is acquired via the virus which is called Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is not an auto-immune disease in the early stages of infection where the immune system in the body fights off infection to protect the body from diseases that go against itself. The virus enters from an outside source and destroys the efficiency of our immune system.

AIDS is transmitted through contact. The contact with infected blood of the HIV OR AIDS patient in any form can easily transfer this viral disease. It can also be transmitted through contact with semen or vaginal fluids of the infected person. This occurs in the case when one is sexually exposed to a person with HIV.

HIV once enters the body, invades and conquers the immune system making the body susceptible to other diseases. It is then very easy for the simple flu or cold infection to be severe as the immune system is no longer fit to fight it.

When detected in the early period can be battled with, but more often than not people assume the symptoms to not be AIDS so it spreads and kills the individual. To be protected when having sex and not sharing any form of toiletries with others is the way to prevent and keep this deadly virus at bay.

Long Essay on AIDS

This is the long format of an essay on HIV AIDS where its workings, causes and effects and remedies are discussed.

There are some diseases that have been borne by the living in this world which has created a ruckus in human history and the struggle to find a permanent cure still exists. AIDS is one such disease. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is the name of the disease which is also shortened as AIDS.

It has since only the 20 th century affected the human race and many people lost their lives, more than 20 million of them. The virus that aids in the transmission of this disease is Human Immunodeficiency Virus or also called HIV. Due to the same property of immunodeficiency, it is referred to as HIV/AIDS.

Since it affects the immune system severely, the cells and the workings of it in our body must be clearly understood. The immune system’s role in the body is that of a soldier wherein it identifies any sort of anomalies that enters or infiltrates the body and prepares antibodies against it. And kills them in order to prevent infection that has the probability of causing a harmful disease.

Since the cells of the immune system have already created the antibodies, the cell memory is activated when the entry occurs again and the immune system fights and destroys such foreign and harmful matter.

What Happens when HIV Enters the Body?

When a person is infected with the Human immunodeficiency virus, it directly attacks the immune system making the cells weak and incapable of creating antibodies for this particular virus. As they become weak their function to perform the task of defending against other microorganism entrants is also weakened.

When the fighter in our bodies becomes weak, we are more likely to fall ill. The illness can be a simple flu or an allergy and our body cannot fight any further. The symptoms once infected will start to appear within the first two weeks. The symptoms are very flu-like for instance, one will be more tired than usual and fatigue will be more frequent and regular. Other symptoms include sore throat and fever. The risk of opportunistic infections like tuberculosis and herpes also increases. Some people however remain asymptomatic even for longer periods after being infected with the virus.

Cause of HIV/AIDS

The main and only cause of this dreadful disease is the contact through blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids and breast milk. The semen and vaginal fluids are transferred through sex and rectal fluids through anal sex. When people have multiple partners, and they have unprotected sex the transmission is highly likely. The contact through blood can also be via the unhygienic practice of sharing an infected person’s razors, blades. Even unsterilized syringes while taking drugs or even a tattoo parlor where they use unsterilized machines on the body can transmit the virus easily. The transmission means are endless so one must proceed with utmost caution to keep themselves safe either way.

What is the Life Expectancy for the Patients Carrying HIV or AIDs with Them?

Many factors can affect the life expectancy of people living with HIV. Depending on these factors there are many differences in the outcomes between people, and other factors. The factors on which life expectancy depend are:

Access to effective HIV treatment and quality health care.

Start HIV treatment as soon as possible after HIV infection, before your CD4 cell count drops to a low level. The sooner you are diagnosed and start HIV treatment, the better your long-term chances are.

Having serious HIV-related illnesses in the past. This may occur before HIV is diagnosed and/or before HIV treatment is started. These diseases have a detrimental effect on life expectancy.

Results one year after starting HIV treatment. Studies show that life expectancy is better for people who respond well within a year of starting treatment than people who do not respond. In particular, people with a CD4 count of at least 350 and an undetectable viral load during the year have a much better chance long-term.

Year of Diagnosis - HIV treatment and medical care have improved over the years. People who have been diagnosed in recent years are expected to live longer than people who were diagnosed long ago.

Heart diseases, liver diseases, cancer and other health conditions are more likely to be the cause of death than HIV or AIDs.

Injecting drug use - Life expectancy is short for people with HIV who inject drugs, due to drug overdose and viral infections.

Social and Economic Conditions - there are significant differences in life expectancy depending on where you grew up, your income, education, social status and more.

Gender – Men are supposed to live for a shorter period of time than women.

Genetics - you may have certain conditions if close relatives have.

Mental and Emotional Well-being - high levels of stress are associated with reduced life expectancy.

Lifestyle - longevity for people who eat a balanced diet, are physically active, maintain a healthy weight, avoid alcohol abuse or use drugs, and stay in touch with the community. Avoiding smoking is very important in life.

There are a few myths surrounding this disease. It is believed earlier that AIDS can spread even through contact or touch without any exchange of fluids. Like through a hug or just by being near the infected person. That myth has been debunked and it is absolutely untrue. One can freely hug an AIDS patient without worry.

The other one was when kissing, there is an exchange of saliva which is also a fluid and AIDS can spread through kissing, which also proved to be untrue. And HIV always means AIDS that is fatal was another rumor or myth, and this myth is proven wrong where many people have lived longer with HIV by medication and taking care of their health.

There is no permanent cure yet for treating HIV/AIDS, so it is our responsibility to look out for ourselves. The way one can first prevent themselves from being infected is by getting vaccinated. It is important to get tested in your adult life if you have multiple sexual partners and also get your partner tested for the same. The other way is being monogamous. The most used form of prevention is having protected and safe sex and using condoms that creates a barrier for transmission. Do check for sterilized needles in case you decide to get a tattoo or injected.  Lessen the use of alcohol and drugs as that is anyway weakening and altering the immune system.

According to the estimates of the Indian government  2.40 million Indians are living with HIV wherein, the infected ones fall in the age group of 15-49, and 39 %of them that is 9,30,00 of them are women. The numbers are alarming and the rate of increase is not slowing down anytime soon. We as a country must break the traditions and conversations about sex should be open and safe. It is high time we lose our lives to this disease which can be prevented.

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FAQs on Essay on AIDS

1. Is AIDS an Autoimmune Disease?

In the early stages of HIV infection that leads to AIDS, the immune system only weakens so it is not an auto-immune disease. But during the later and final stages, the workings of the immune system are similar to that of an auto-immune system where it works against itself. And in such cases, the body of the individual is susceptible to many more diseases. AIDS, a disease found in immune deficiency disorder, is caused by HIV and weakens the human immune system. Autoimmune diseases, on the other hand, are where the immune system turns, attacking healthy cells.

2. Does one die from HIV Infection?

The HIV infection results in many symptoms that make the body weaker day by day. But some do not even suffer those symptoms and they may live longer than the ones showing severe symptoms. In any case, it is important to take medications that are prescribed to reduce the severity of symptoms and live a little longer. The best way is to keep healthy and lead an active lifestyle as much as possible. Although the death toll from AIDS has dropped dramatically around the world, this situation increases the risk of contracting a fatal disease — potentially leading to death. No treatment or cure is present for HIV.

3. What method was adopted by the hospitals to report HIV or AIDs cases?

The doctors took the active initiative for the reporting and diagnosis of HIV or AIDs cases all over the world. The methods that all the French hospital wards were known for, for their role in controlling HIV infection, were asked to report the 2000 deaths among HIV-positive adults. The causes of death were recorded using a standard questionnaire. The Mortality 2000 study was launched to explain the distribution of the leading causes of death of HIV-positive people at the national level in France in the year 2000.

4. What is the way of determining the root cause of death in AIDs patients?

Following the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) to death, the information contained in the questionnaire was used to determine the single cause of death. The causes of AIDS were categorized as one cause of death, followed by definitions of AIDS-related diseases. If a standard questionnaire was lost, summarized quarter notices were used to determine the underlying cause of death, if possible. Determination of the AIDs cases was set to the most important things in the list, which was done from the abstracted quarterly notifications from the questionnaires.

5. Is Vedantu a reliable website for knowing about AIDs disease?

Vedantu is the most reliable website for referring to information about AIDs disease. Being one of the most dangerous diseases in the world with no proper treatment or cure, the world's physicians are still under pressure to decipher the way to save a person from this disease. The Vedantu website contains authentic or updated information about this disease and thus the readers and viewers can rely on this source of information for perfect knowledge about the disease and its prevention also.

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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection. There's no cure, but it is treatable with medicine.

What Is HIV?

HIV ( human immunodeficiency virus ) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex (sex without a condom or HIV medicine to prevent or treat HIV), or through sharing injection drug equipment.

If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS ( acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ).

The human body can’t get rid of HIV and no effective HIV cure exists. So, once you have HIV, you have it for life. Luckily, however, effective treatment with HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) is available. If taken as prescribed, HIV medicine can reduce the amount of HIV in the blood (also called the viral load) to a very low level. This is called viral suppression. If a person’s viral load is so low that a standard lab can’t detect it, this is called having an undetectable viral load. People with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load can live long and healthy lives and will not transmit HIV to their HIV-negative partners through sex .

In addition, there are effective methods to prevent getting HIV through sex or drug use, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) , medicine people at risk for HIV take to prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use, and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) , HIV medicine taken within 72 hours after a possible exposure to prevent the virus from taking hold. Learn about other ways to prevent getting or transmitting HIV .

What Is AIDS?

AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection that occurs when the body’s immune system is badly damaged because of the virus.

In the U.S., most people with HIV do not develop AIDS because taking HIV medicine as prescribed stops the progression of the disease.

A person with HIV is considered to have progressed to AIDS when:

  • the number of their CD4 cells falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood (200 cells/mm3). (In someone with a healthy immune system, CD4 counts are between 500 and 1,600 cells/mm3.) OR
  • they develop one or more opportunistic infections regardless of their CD4 count.

Without HIV medicine, people with AIDS typically survive about 3 years. Once someone has a dangerous opportunistic illness, life expectancy without treatment falls to about 1 year. HIV medicine can still help people at this stage of HIV infection, and it can even be lifesaving. But people who start HIV medicine soon after they get HIV experience more benefits—that’s why HIV testing is so important.

How Do I Know If I Have HIV?

The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested . Testing is relatively simple. You can ask your health care provider for an HIV test. Many medical clinics, substance abuse programs, community health centers, and hospitals offer them too. If you test positive, you can be connected to HIV care to start treatment as soon as possible. If you test negative, you have the information you need to take steps to prevent getting HIV in the future.

To find an HIV testing location near you, use the HIV Services Locator .

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Essay on AIDS for Students & Children in English [500+ Words]

January 15, 2021 by Sandeep

Essay on AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is a deadly disease contracted when a person infected with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). It destroys the person’s immune system to such an extent that the patient cannot resist even minor illnesses. The CD4 cells of the host system are totally weakened, and the patient’s physical and mental condition becomes vulnerable. There has been no permanent cure for AIDS to date.

Essay on AIDS 500 Words in English

Below we have provided AIDS Essay in English, suitable for class 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.

Can you believe that around 38 million people in the world are, currently, suffering from a disease, which had already taken the lives of around 35 million in the past! “Dangerous” is the first word that we associate with this disease from these figures; but still, what is more dangerous, is that, despite being such a deadly disease, it is one of the most “taboo” diseases of the world! This disease is called “AIDS”. Its name may mean ‘to help’, but it just helps a person to die!

AIDS, a short-form for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, is one of the world’s fatal diseases. AIDS is caused by a virus named HIV, i.e. Human Immunodeficiency Virus. We can get an idea about this virus’s work from its name itself. It weakens our immune system by getting into White Blood Cells (WBCs), which are involved in protecting our body from infectious diseases and foreign invaders, and then destroying WBCs and the T-helper cells (T-helper cells helps other cells in our immune system to fight off the invading viruses). This results in weakening the body’s immune system, which becomes more susceptible or likely to catch other diseases too! Eventually, as the body cannot fight off the diseases, it leads to the final stage of this disease, AIDS.

The first cases of AIDS were found in the Western parts of Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It later on spread outside of Africa, during the early 20th century, when the urbanisation was at its peak in Africa. Later on, when some deaths were reported late 20th century in America, it was taken as a serious issue. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 contributes to 90% of the cases, while HIV-2 is very rare. Hence, generally, when we are referring to HIV, we are talking about HIV-1.

Generally, HIV transmits in one of the three ways

  • Blood:  The transfusion of HIV through blood was very common in its initial spread. By reusing of needles, we can transmit this virus from an infected person to a healthy one. But nowadays, stricter norms have led to fewer cases due to this reason.
  • Prenatal: Prenatal transmission is possible through an infected mother to her child while breastfeeding, during delivery of a baby or even during pregnancy.
  • Sexual Transmission:  Sexual transmission occurs through body fluids while having sexual activity or unprotected sexual intercourse through oral, genital, or rectal parts.

According to the UN, “India has the 3rd largest number of people living with HIV in the world,” i.e. around 2.1 million at the end of 2013.

Symptoms of AIDS

As HIV attacks on the WBCs of the body, the overall immune system of the human body is reduced, and due to that, the infected person is at risk of catching other diseases very easily. Normally, it takes 0-12 years for symptoms to appear rapidly, and the common symptoms are fever, fatigue, loss of weight, dysentery, swollen nodes, etc.

Hence, a person can live with this disease for around 10 years, without knowing that he/she is suffering from it! Also, this disease doesn’t just affect a person’s health life, but its social life too! The social stigma and trauma that follows this disease are also worse.

AIDS – Prevention and Treatment

Currently, there’s no cure for this disease. But its growth and spread in the body can be controlled by a drug therapy called ART or Anti-Retroviral Therapy. Still, a person has to learn to live with this virus. December 1st, is known as World AIDS Day, to spread awareness of this disease, as this is the only way to fight off this disease. As more awareness will make people take medicine in the early stage of this disease itself. The governments of various countries and the World Health Organisation (WHO), have taken various steps to increase the awareness of this disease, globally.

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World AIDS Day 2023 Roundup from HIV.gov

December 7, 2023 – Several important messages and new resources were shared to commemorate World AIDS Day 2023. Read about the World AIDS Day 2023 Key Messages and New Resources .

Interviews for World AIDS Day

December 1, 2023 – Dr. Robyn Neblett Fanfair, Acting Director of CDC's Division of HIV Prevention, provided World AIDS Day interviews on iHeartRadio: World AIDS Day, Veteran Suicide Report & Holiday Spending Tips and for Scripps News: 35 years ago, World AIDS Day was created to raise awareness .

White House Proclamation

November 30, 2023 – President Biden issued A Proclamation on World AIDS Day, 2023 .

World AIDS Day 2023 Letter

November 29, 2023 – Jonathan H. Mermin, MD, MPH, and Robyn Neblett Fanfair, MD, MPH, shared a letter to colleagues emphasizing the collective commitment to ending the HIV epidemic and to honor the lives lost to HIV.

AIDS Memorial Quilt In-Person Displays

Communities can now request to display blocks of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which weighs 54 tons in total and features 50,000 panels dedicated to nearly 150,000 individuals.

  • AIDS Memorial Quilt Community Display Program
  • View the Interactive AIDS Quilt

Dec. 4, 2023 (Online Event)

Conversation with hiv.gov and harold j. phillips.

HIV.gov and Harold J. Phillips, MRP, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, conducted a Livestream conversation highlighting World AIDS Day activities and honoring those we've lost throughout the HIV epidemic.

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Dec. 1, 2023 (Video)

Hiv and the politics of race: the minority aids initiative at 25.

The inaugural Health Opportunities for Policy Equity (HOPE) Challenge breakfast forum on "HIV and the Politics of Race: The Minority AIDS Initiative at 25." This special event was held on World AIDS Day (December 1, 2023) at the newly opened Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center located at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, in Washington D.C.

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Dec. 1, 2023 (Instagram)

The future of hiv prevention and care for black women.

CDC's Dr. Robyn Neblett Fanfair (Acting Director of CDC's Division of HIV Prevention), Linda Goler Blount (President of the Black Women's Health Imperative), and Emory's Dr. Whitney S. Rice spoke on Instagram Live with Christal Jordan of Rolling Out about, "The Future of HIV Prevention and Care for Black Women."

Instagram: @stophivtogether

Dec. 1, 2023 (X/Twitter)

Twitter chat with the national hispanic medical association.

NHMA and CDC's Let's Stop HIV Together clinical ambassador Dr. Joseph Cherabie chatted for World AIDS Day.

X (Twitter): #NHMAHIVChat

Dec. 1, 2023 (Online Event)

World aids day #workingpositively event.

The #WorkingPositively initiative's World AIDS Day event was held at SAP headquarters. SAP, IBM, HRC, and CDC's Let's Stop HIV Together ambassadors shared comments about reducing HIV stigma.

World AIDS Day Instagram Live on @monotrepao

CDC's Let's Stop HIV Together ambassadors conducted an Instagram live discussion on eliminating HIV stigma. Together ambassador Andres moderated the conversation, which also highlighted the importance of HIV testing and available prevention and treatment options.

Instagram: @monotrepao

Nov. 30, 2023 (Instagram)

Nike pride fireside chat.

CDC's Let's Stop HIV Together ambassadors, Asia Sullivan and Dr. James Simmons, joined NIKE's Pride Network for a discussion about HIV stigma and dispelling myths about HIV. Watch Asia and Dr. Simmons' on-the-ground coverage from the event.

Instagram: @AskTheNP | @CoutureInClinic

Ongoing Virtual Exhibit

Forty years of progress: reflections on 40 years of hiv.

The David J. Sencer CDC Museum remembers the more than 32 million people who have died from HIV worldwide since the start of the global epidemic, and the 38 million people currently living with HIV.

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World AIDS Day

CDC provides resources to partners for World AIDS Day, December 1, to raise global awareness of HIV and encourage testing and prevention.

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Essay on AIDS for School/College Students and Others in Simple language

aids day essay in english

Table of Contents

Essay on AIDS for School/College Students: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS is a syndrome that, as the name suggests, weakens the body’s immune system. The infection is caused by a virus known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV and is transmitted through unprotected sex, use of needles already exposed to the virus, transfusion of unscreened blood and through gestation from an infected mother to her child. Below you will find essays on AIDS, its causes, symptoms, treatments and prevention. These essays are of different lengths and should prove useful in your exams. Choose the essay {you need} as per your requirement.

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Long and Short Essay on AIDS in English

There are tiny organisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can cause different sicknesses. How bad you feel when you’re sick depends on which tiny organism is making you sick. Sometimes it’s not too bad, but other times it can make you very sick. AIDS, short for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is a kind of sickness caused by a virus. It’s been spreading a lot and was really dangerous in the last century, causing the deaths of about twenty million people around the world. Nowadays, more people know about this sickness and the virus called HIV, which causes it. Let’s learn some important things about HIV/AIDS and clear up some wrong ideas

AIDS Full Form

AIDS is short for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It’s an illness that weakens the body’s defense system, making it hard to fight off some infections and cancers.

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Essay on AIDS in 350 words

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS is a pervasive disease that is caused by HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacking the immune system of the human body. It has no known cure although there are medicines to slow down or completely inhibit the virus spread. Since one of the main methods of transfer of the virus is through unprotected sex, AIDS also carries with it a stigma that ensures that society didn’t discuss it openly for a long time.

Unfortunately, this taboo meant that not enough information shared about how the disease spread, since most people were wary of talking about it. Combine the lack of a cure with this lack of information in public forums and you get a pandemic that has resulted in over 28.9 million deaths.

Importance of Awareness

There is only one way to fight the spread of AIDS and that is through creating awareness. Ignorance of is the causes and methods of transfer of HIV and it only makes a bad situation fully worse. It is imperative, therefore, that people be made aware of what AIDS is, how it spreads and what can done to prevent infection.

Governments and non-profit organizations have instituted various programs not only to do health check-ups but also to dispel the prejudice that attaches itself to this disease and those who suffer from it. Awareness programs have spread information about HIV and how to prevent it for years now and their efforts have borne fruit. The results speak for themselves. The percentage of people with HIV has reduced considerably.

So that people do not become complacent and forget that AIDS is still very much a player in the deadly diseases field various awareness initiatives have undertaken, the most prominent of which is World AIDS Day – a day when people show their solidarity with those who afflicted with this disease and remember those who were struck down by it. Other initiatives target vulnerable people and communities so that they fully informed and able to prevent the disease from spreading.

While new therapies can help in controlling HIV from spreading all over the body, awareness is the key to actually prevent AIDS from spreading across populations. It also helps to remind one that while the pandemic is under control now it is by no means gone and carelessness or apathy will definitely ensure that it comes roaring back.

Essay on AIDS in 400 words

AIDS has ended up taking well over 28.9 million lives in the years since the disease was first discovered. Thanks to various myths and misconceptions about the syndrome, the virus spread like wildfire and infected millions of people before it could contained. The fact that it attacks white blood cells thereby weakening immunity is what makes it so deadly, since it undermines the human body’s defence and leaves people who are HIV positive at massive risk.

Thanks to concerted efforts by governments across the world, advancements in medicine and awareness campaigns, the number of HIV positive people has reduced. However, no cure for the disease has found yet. There are treatments available but they can only inhibit the virus; they can’t eliminate it from the body entirely. In these circumstances, it becomes imperative that we focus on prevention to get to the root of the problem.

Preventative Measures

In order to prevent AIDS from spreading, we need to first know how it spreads. There are three main ways in which HIV can move around from one person to another – unprotected sexual intercourse with an HIV positive partner, transfer of HIV from mother to child, either during pregnancy or during breast feeding, transfusion of blood and needle sharing amongst drug users. Therefore, any preventative measures need to take these factors into account. Some things that one can do to protect themselves are:

Preventive Measures for AIDS

Know your partner’s status

Both you and your partner should get regularly tested for HIV. Many health centres in different countries offer testing kits. If you are hesitant to visit a doctor, you can get one these kits and determine your partner’s and your health status.

  • Practice safe sex

Since one of the major reasons for the massive spread of the virus unprotected sex, it is absolutely imperative that you practice safe sex. Condoms are a must. In addition, it is best to restrict the number of partners you have sex with. The more people you have sex the greater chance of you contracting HIV or other STDs

Test regularly

Ensure that you and your partner go for periodic and regular check-ups, not only for AIDS but also for other STDs. Having an STD greatly enhances your risk of contracting AIDS

  • Pre-exposure prophylaxis –

Talk to a doctor or health care provider about post-exposure prophylaxis. This reduces the chance of HIV infection in its early stages. It must taken within three days of exposure to HIV.

Since there is no cure for AIDS at the moment, prevention is definitely better than cure in the case of this disease. Some simple preventative measures can ensure that the spread of the virus limited if not completely halted.

Essay on AIDS in 450 words

The fact that India has the world’s second-largest population is part of the reason that India has the world’s third largest HIV epidemic. In terms of percentage, this statistic is around 0.3 percent, which might not seem too large. However, when this statistic converted to actual numbers it becomes 2.1 million people who are HIV positive. This number is as per data collected by UNAIDS for the year 2016. AIDS-related causes killed 62,000 people in the same year.

At Risk Demographics

The most at-risk sections of the population are sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs and transgender people. These are some of the most vulnerable groups in society since most of them are subject to discrimination and stigma. That discrimination makes it difficult, if not outright impossible, for them to access healthcare. Add to this the fact that activities associated with sex work such as running a brothel are illegal, gay and bisexual men face social stigma if they come out, drug addicts are generally reviled and transgender people looked down upon and you have the perfect combination of circumstances that breed an epidemic.

Prevention and Treatment Efforts

Fortunately, there has been a concerted drive by the UN, the Indian government and various non-profits organizations to reduce the risk that these sections of the populace face. The number of AIDS testing and counselling sites has gone from only 67 in 1997 to 20,000 in 2016. In addition, HIV awareness campaigns have ramped up and testing and treatment have made free. Thanks to these and other measures, the number of people living with HIV has actually gone down from 5.1 million in 2003 to 2.1 million in 2016.

New Challenges

While the measures put in place have helped in controlling the epidemic, India cannot rest on its laurels. States with larger populations such as Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have recently reported infection in new pockets. India needs to expand its policies to reduce harm and to decriminalize homosexuality and drug use so that these sections of society can have access to care and treatment without fear of repercussions.

We must take care of our health and our health status should checked out periodically to remain away from this deadly disease. We should also motivate and suggest others to do the same. This disease cannot eradicated from the society; so, we must focus on its prevention.

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Essay on World AIDS Day in 500 words

AIDS is a public health issue, perhaps the most important such issue in recorded history. Although the AIDS pandemic reached its peak in 2005 and has declined since, there are still around 37 million people worldwide who are HIV positive. Moreover, as of 2017, AIDS has been responsible for the deaths of 28.9 million to 41.5 million people around the world. Raising awareness about this disease is absolutely vital. This is why the WHO has marked the World AIDS Day as one of eight official global campaigns.

What is World AIDS Day?

1 st December is the day designated as World AIDS Day, an international day that meant to spread awareness about AIDS. However, this is not the only reason this day is celebrated. It also allows people who aren’t HIV positive to support and ally with those people who are. It is also a day when those who eventually succumbed to the disease commemorated. The first ever day dedicated to a global public health issue.

Importance of World AIDS Day

There is no denying the fact that the spread of AIDS isn’t as rampant as it once was. Thanks to awareness campaigns, scientific advances and new treatments we can understand and combat the disease better. However, there is no avoiding the fact that nearly 37 million people are living with this disease and new pockets of infection discovered every day. Moreover, people with AIDS are still subjected to discrimination and live in fear of the stigma that the disease carries with it. Therefore, it becomes very important to remind everyone that AIDS is still very much out there; the government and public must continue to spread awareness, raise funds and combat the prejudice and discrimination that people who are HIV positive face. This is why World AIDS Day is celebrated annually as a reminder that AIDS hasn’t gone away.

What to do on World AIDS Day/Activities

On World AIDS Day, we need to show our support for those who are living with this disease and those who have been struck down by it. One of the most common ways to show solidarity is to wear the HIV Awareness red ribbon. These ribbons can be found in packs of 100 at the online store of the National AIDS Trust or NAT. The order is free but those who buy the packs must show that they will use the ribbons for fundraising. The Trust also sells red ribbon brooches from the online store. Another way to show support is to either organize or participate in World AIDS Day events.

While the AIDS pandemic has been contained to a certain degree, the disease has still not eradicated. Until that goal is reached, World AIDS Day needs to continue so that people don’t labour under the misconception that this deadly disease is gone; instead there is awareness about the disease, its prevention and its treatment.

Long Essay on HIV/AIDS in 800 words

The AIDS pandemic that, at one time, threatened to spread like wildfire throughout the world’s populations has been checked to some extent. Thanks to determined campaigns worldwide, more people are becoming aware of AIDS – not only how deadly it is but also what causes it and how to treat it. The more information we have, the better we can fight. Therefore, it becomes vital that we know as much as we can about this syndrome to help stop its spread.

Causes of AIDS/HIV

AIDS is caused by HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a retrovirus, which means that it replicates by inserting a DNA copy of its genome into host cells. In this case, the host cells are white blood cells known as T-helper cells or CD4 cells, which are part of the immune system. HIV destroys these cells and makes copies of itself, thereby, weakening the human immune system. In practical terms, it lowers our ability to fight off diseases over time. This doesn’t mean that every person who is HIV positive has AIDS. However, if treatment not made available in time, someone who is HIV positive can develop AIDS.

Transmission of AIDS/HIV

HIV can transferred in one of three ways:

HIV can passed on through blood transfusion, although this is fairly uncommon these days. Most developed countries have strict screening processes in place to ensure that the blood being transfused not infected. However, there is another way for blood to pass from one person to another and that is through sharing needles as many drug users often do. If these needles are shared by someone who is HIV positive, the virus will be transferred to the person they’re sharing with.

If an expectant mother or new mother is HIV positive, she can pass on the virus to her child. This can happen during the pregnancy, during childbirth or, later, during breast feeding.

  • Sexual transmission

HIV can transferred through the sharing of bodily fluids during sex. These fluids include genital, rectal and oral fluids. This means that without the protection of a condom, the virus can transmitted through oral, anal or vaginal sex. It can also happen if sex toys shared with someone who is HIV positive.

Symptoms of AIDS/HIV

HIV doesn’t always have readily identifiable symptoms. However, certain symptoms can show up depending upon how far it has progressed in the body.

  • Early symptoms

Not everyone shows signs of being HIV positive at this stage. Nevertheless, approximately 80 percent of people who are HIV positive do show symptoms not unlike those of the flu. These symptoms generally include chills, fever, muscle aches, joint pain, night sweats, sore throat, red rash, enlarged glands, weakness, fatigue, thrush and weight loss. However, these symptoms also show up when the body is fighting of other viral infections. Therefore, people who have recently at risk of contracting HIV should get tested immediately.

  • Asymptomatic HIV

After the symptoms of the early stage run their course, HIV positive people may not see other symptoms for months or even years. This doesn’t mean that the virus is dormant. This is the time when the virus is busy attacking the CD4 cells and weakening the immune system. Without proper medication, this process goes on even though the person will not show any symptoms.

  • Late-stage symptoms

At this stage, the virus has already significantly weakened the immune system, leaving the person vulnerable to several infections ranging from mild to serious. This is the stage that referred to as AIDS. Symptoms at this stage may include chronic diarrhoea, blurred vision, fever that lasts for weeks, dry cough, constant fatigue, night sweats, glands that swollen for weeks, dyspnea or shortness of breath, white spots on mouth and tongue and weight loss.

Once the disease has progressed to the stage where it is more or less full blown AIDS, a patient becomes much more vulnerable to various other diseases such as tuberculosis.

Treatment of AIDS or HIV

There is no cure for AIDS or HIV at the moment. Since HIV is a retrovirus that replicates by replacing the host cell’s DNA with copies of its own DNA, the best way to contain its spread is ART or antiretroviral therapy. This is a drug therapy that prevents the virus from replicating, thereby slowing or stopping its progress. It is best to start the treatment in the early stages of infection so that the immune system not significantly affected. At later stages, this treatment can combined with drugs that treat secondary diseases the patient may have contracted due to lowered immunity.

Being diagnosed as HIV positive not an easy thing to handle. However, with the treatments now available to rein in the spread of the disease, patients suffering from HIV can still lead long, healthy and productive lives.

Essay on AIDS in 850 Words

AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome a disease caused by the infection of HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The virus attacks the immune system of body, reducing its ability to combat other diseases. Thus, the person with HIV is more susceptible to getting other diseases and has to continuously kept under medication, to maintain body’s immunity.

During the initial one decade after its discovery in 1981, the disease had claimed nearly thirty million lives globally. Thanks to the advancements in medical technology and medicines, today anyone tested positive of HIV could lead a normal life under ongoing medication.

AIDS – 4H Disease

One of the lesser known facts about AIDS is that during its initial years, the disease was called 4H Disease, as it appeared to affect homosexuals, Haitians (residents of Haiti, a Caribbean country), heroin users and hemophiliacs.

AIDS – History and Origin

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) first originated in non human primates in central and west Africa. The most severe strain of virus called HIV-1 discovered in as early as 1920 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Scientists estimated that the transfer of virus from primates to humans might have occurred during the late 19 th or early 20 th century, a period of fast urbanization in equatorial Africa.

During the 1970s a mysteriously suppressed immune system was causing many deaths in USA, but it was only in 1981 that America’s Centre for Disease Control officially recognized the AIDS infection in a woman.

Symptoms of AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks White Blood Cells, also called CD4 Cells, which is a subtype of white blood cells, called the T Cells. These cells are responsible for body’s immunity and when their strength compromised, it results in a reduced immunity leaving the infected vulnerable to any other disease or infection. The symptoms of disease, however, may take years to appear, differing from person to person.

Some of the common symptoms of AIDS or HIV infection are fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes or immune system glands, weight loss, diarrhea, oral yeast infection and herpes zoster.

Since the infection wakens the immune system, the infected is most likely to develop a series of infections not found in a non infected person like persistent fever, night sweating, and lesions in tongue or mouth and skin rashes.

Causes of AIDS

Research has established that AIDS caused by two viruses, namely HIV-1 and HIV-2, belonging to a family of viruses called retrovirus and have the capacity to infect a person for the rest of that person’s life.

The virus attacks the white blood cells compromising the body’s immune system and making it more susceptible to other diseases.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus – 1 or HIV-1

The HIV-1 virus most predominantly found in most parts of the world and is most virulent of the two viruses. The virus adopts a distinctive modus operandi – it attacks the most significant immune cells in your body, the CD4 cells, uses them to reproduce and then destroys them.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus – 2 or HIV-2

The HIV-2 virus is prevalent mostly in the parts of western Africa; though, regular cases have reported from Europe, United States and India. This type of virus also affects the CD4 cells; however, the diagnosis may differ from the HIV-1 virus, due to the viruses’ drug resistance capacities.

How HIV/AIDS Spreads

HIV can only transmitted through unprotected sex and if the infected blood somehow finds its way into your body. There are several ways that could lead to the spread of virus from one infected person to other, as given below.

1) Unprotected Sex

HIV virus can spread from an infected person to a healthy individual, if they exchanged sexual fluids during an unprotected sexual intercourse. The virus could easily find its way into your blood through small sores, tears or wounds in your mouth or private parts, during such activity.

2) Unsafe Blood Transfusion

If any medical practitioner or hospital transmits blood from one person to other, without properly screening the blood; poses a risk of the spread of HIV virus. Any blood collected from the donor, must be verified for the presence of HIV and other viruses, before transfusing to the donor.

3) By Sharing Unsafe Needles

Sharing infected needle might result in transmission of the virus. Use of such contaminated needles not only poses the high risk of HIV contamination, but also other diseases such as hepatitis and septicemia.

4) During Pregnancy/Delivery or Breast Feeding

An infected mother can pass on the virus to her baby during pregnancy or during delivery or even during breast feeding; however, the risk of infection considerably lowered if the mother gets appropriate treatment for AIDS during pregnancy.

Due to the extensive use of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) (HIV medicines) and raised level of awareness about the disease, much less adults and children getting infected and dying, than in the past decades. The death toll has reduced considerably, by 54% than in 2004. However, there is no room to relax and the fight against AIDS must not lose its momentum.

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Helpful Resources on Health and Fitness

Essay on aids faqs, what is aids in a short paragraph.

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a serious condition caused by the HIV virus. It weakens the body's immune system, making it hard to fight off infections and illnesses.

What are AIDS notes?

AIDS notes typically summarize key points about Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, including its causes, symptoms, and impact on health.

How do you explain AIDS?

AIDS is a disease that damages the immune system, making it tough for the body to defend against infections, eventually leading to severe health problems.

How does HIV affect a person's daily life?

HIV can impact daily life by weakening the immune system, making someone more prone to illnesses and infections, altering their health routines and requiring medication management.

What is the cause of AIDS?

AIDS is caused by the HIV virus, which attacks and damages the body's immune system, making it vulnerable to various infections and health complications.

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Short & Long Essay on AIDs in 100, 250, and 500 Words

Essay on aids.

The essay on AIDS (HIV) is written in simple English and has easy words for children and students. This (Essay on AIDS or HIV) English essay mentions AIDS, how it originated, and why we should know about it. Students are often asked to write an essay on AIDS in their schools and colleges. And if you are also looking for the same, then we have given an essay on AIDS in 100 – words, 250 – words, and 500 – words.

Short & Long Essay on AIDs

Essay – 100 words.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, also known as AIDS, is a fatal and fatal disease. Caused by AIDS (HIV) or human immunodeficiency virus. It is one of the deadliest diseases of the 20th century that attacks the immune system of the human body. AIDS has spread like wildfire around the world and has so far caused the death of more than twenty-nine million people all over the world.

Awareness about AIDS has been spread among the people by the government and non-governmental organizations. It is not only a disease but is seen as a stigma and discrimination in the society. We need to instill in them the belief that HIV-positive people can live healthy and long lives.

Essay – 250 Words

Introduction

AIDS which stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is not a congenital disease. It means an immune system deficiency acquired during a person’s lifetime. The disease has spread throughout the world, killing more than 29 million people.

Due to coming in contact with this, the immunity of the patient becomes so low and he becomes unable to protect himself from these infections. A widely used diagnostic test for AIDS is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Reason for Spread of AIDS

AIDS is caused by the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV). Transmission of HIV infection generally occurs in the following ways:-

(a) By coming into sexual contact with an infected person,

(b) by transfusion of contaminated blood and blood products,

(c) by sharing infected needles, and

(d) From an infected mother to her child through the placenta.

Therefore, people who are at higher risk of contracting this infection include those who are drug addicts, those who have multiple sexual partners, or those who require frequent blood transfusions.

AIDs Treatment

There is no cure for AIDS in the world, so prevention is the best option. HIV infection often spreads due to a lack of information. Government and other organizations are running awareness campaigns and other programs for its prevention and information.

AIDS is a disease which has no treatment and cannot be cured but it can be prevented only through awareness. Others should also be encouraged and educated to prevent it.

Essay – 500 Words

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a widespread and fatal disease caused by HIV or human immunodeficiency virus. There is no cure for it in the world yet, although there are medicines to slow down the virus. AIDS is seen as a stigma in society which ensures that there is still a lack of information among the people in the society.

Origin and History of AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) first originated in non-human primates in West and Central Africa. The most serious type of the virus, called HIV-1, was discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1920. It was causing many deaths in the United States in the 1970s, so in 1981 the US Centers for Disease Control officially recognized AIDS infection when found in a woman.

How is AIDS (HIV) Spread?

The HIV virus can spread from one infected person to another in several ways as given below.

1. Unsafe blood transfusion

There is a risk of spreading the HIV virus when a doctor or hospital transmits blood from one person to another without properly testing the blood. Any blood must be tested for the presence of HIV and other viruses before it is transfused.

2. Unprotected sex

The HIV virus can spread from one infected person to another healthy person when they exchange sexual fluids during unprotected sex.

3. Sharing unsafe needles

The virus can also be spread by sharing infected needles. The use of such contaminated needles can lead not only to HIV infection but also to other high-risk infections such as hepatitis and septicemia.

4. During pregnancy/childbirth or breastfeeding

An infected woman can also pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. However, if the woman receives proper treatment during pregnancy, the risk of infection is reduced to a great extent.

AIDS (HIV) Treatment

At present no country has any cure for AIDS or HIV. HIV is a retrovirus that replicates by replacing the host cell’s DNA with copies of its own DNA, so the best way to stop it from spreading is ART or antiretroviral therapy which stops the virus from replicating and slows its progression. Gives or withholds. It is best to start treatment at an early stage as soon as the infection is detected so that there is less damage to the immune system. Its treatment can then be combined with those preventive medicines.

AIDS (HIV) is a deadly disease that spreads slowly. So awareness is really the key to stopping the spread of AIDS. Although this infection is now under control, it has not been completely eradicated. We can prevent it by making more and more people aware of it.

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high school reflection essay

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The Lasting Value of the Personal Essay

This writing form has a value that goes beyond the college application as it nurtures self-reflection and inspires creativity.

Teenager working on a laptop while looking out a window

I still remember my own personal essay that I wrote decades ago during my college admissions process. My essay focused on movies and how movies were a conduit of curiosity. It was also about the death of my father and how movies, in part, had provided a common ground for us—a connection. Although my essay, of course, was not the sole determining factor in my admission, it’s a predominant memory from that time of my life. To this day, I feel it had a persuasive effect on my admittance.

In fact, now looking back, I can’t recall my grade point average or my class rank or the final grade that my English teacher gave me on my literary analysis of Heart of Darkness. Even my exact SAT score, back then a real measure of academic aptitude, remains fuzzy to me all these years later, “shaded in wistful half-lights,” as described by Norman Maclean. I can, however, remember nearly every sentence, if not quite every word, of the personal essay I submitted to my first-choice college, which has undoubtedly, for me, over the years remained one of the most important pieces of writing I have ever produced.

The personal essay is an enduring literary genre and an art form that provides often-challenging material in English classes. In my Advanced Placement Language and Composition course, we frequently read works from an array of authors from various eras, including Michel de Montaigne, Virginia Woolf, E. B. White, Joan Didion, André Aciman, Brian Doyle, Dr. Oliver Sacks. These writers function as exemplars for my students to both analyze and model not only for their rhetorical value but also for their stylistic technique and philosophical ruminations.

Power of Personalization

One of the most predominant rhetorical strategies we recognize in these texts is personalization. And so Woolf’s “The Death of the Moth” has impacted my students throughout the years with its frank depiction of psychological tension, addressing philosophical themes on an existential level that never fail to capture their attention—so much so, that a group of students painted a mural on the wall outside my classroom, a visual interpretation of Woolf’s essay that they titled Memento Mori .

The candor and intimacy of Dr. Oliver Sacks’s depiction of his final days before his death from cancer have engendered numerous touching and insightful comments from my students during our Socratic seminars analyzing his almost unendurably moving personal essay, “My Periodic Table.” 

Students respond viscerally, it seems, to the personal. Sadly, many students have been touched by some of the same tragic subject matter that we analyze through these texts. During our seminars and journal assignments, my students have revealed their own personal connections to some of the personal essays we read in class, connecting, I think, to the shared experiences that we have all had throughout human history. 

Our students often find themselves facing a vortex of standardized tests, AP exams, and benchmarks throughout the school year, which often emphasize the formulaic. The active process of personal choice on topic and subject seems lost. So often my students ask me questions when writing an essay, seeking a particular answer, as if literary analysis were calculus. Missing is the creativity, the exploration of writing free from academic constraints like rubrics and scoring guides. Writer-editor Steve Moyer asserts in  Edsitement , “Nuanced thought... requires a greater gestation period than the nearly instant gratification made possible on Twitter.” I have witnessed this impatience from my own students.

There can be a restlessness in the writing process, a hesitancy for revision or drafting. Personal essays require self-reflection and a free-flowing freedom from rigid form that my students embrace in a way that they don’t with an argument or research-based essay. On more than one occasion during parent-teacher conferences, I have had parents tell me that their child used to love creative writing, but somewhere along the way, the rigor of school seemed to have killed it.

Personal essays, then, restore that creativity, since they encourage a freedom from form. Students can experiment with style and figurative language and syntax in ways that the traditional academic five-paragraph essay often thwarts.

Personal essays also allow teachers to really get to know our students, too. The inherent intimacy of a personal essay, the connection between the writer and the reader—in this case, a student and a teacher—provides insight into the concerns, the dreams, the emotions of our students in addition to allowing us to assess how they exercise their compositional skills, including imagery, syntax, diction, and figurative language. Here, then, a teacher has the best of both worlds. We’re able to both connect to our students on an emotional level and evaluate their learning on an academic level. Personal essays also serve as an emotional outlet. 

There seems to be a common assumption that personal essays for high school students serve only the college application process, so the process begins during their senior year. Personal writing, however, should occur throughout a student’s academic experience. The narrative essays that most elementary school students encounter evolve into the more ruminative, philosophical, and reflective personal writing they will encounter during their senior year from many of Common App essay prompts.

Many teachers implement journal writing in their classrooms that provides a firm foundation for the type of personal writing that the college admissions essay requires. In my own class of juniors, the last assignment we complete for the year is a personal essay. My intent is to help prepare them for the college essay they will write, hopefully, during the summer so that they will have a solid draft before the application process begins. 

Teaching our students this strategy in their own writing benefits them in their futures, not only for the imminent college application process but also for job interviews. For example, I was mentoring a student, a senior who had no desire to go to college, about the job interview process he would soon face after graduation. We rehearsed and practiced the types of questions he might encounter from a future employer. I encouraged him to remember the personal details of his experience, personalizing everything in a way that would allow him to ideally stand out as a job candidate.

Through personal essay writing, my overarching, grand ambition is to instill in my students ultimately a love of reflection, looking back on their experience, reminiscing on significant memories that linger, carefully considering the seemingly little moments that, only upon reflection, have an enormous impact on us.

Examples

High School Reflective Essay

high school reflection essay

Most of the essays seem to be easy at first. As we go along the writing process , it become a little harder than we thought especially if we do not know its basic structure. Try to observe some examples of other academic essays like argumentative essay sample , narrative essay sample , descriptive essay sample , and informative essay sample . They all follow the same structure which contains the introduction, a body that contains at least three paragraphs and a conclusion. Reflective essays have the same thing. It also needs to have coherence to capture audience attention. In this guide, we are going to explore about the details of a reflective essay.

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What is a Reflective Essay?

A reflective essay is a type of writing that enables you to reflect, to evaluate your life and to tell something about yourself. Now, you already have a topic to discuss. You may consider evaluating your feelings and the memories you have experienced.

Since this is all about yourself, you have to make it interesting just like telling a fictional story . Your readers will always look for something exciting to read, so you have to be focused and find a way not to let your readers be bored. This is a very special type of essay as it allows you to reflect or evaluate, write about it and explain.

Why does it have to involve feelings and memories? It is because those are already a part of you. You have to describe the feeling and the memory you had since these elements bring life into your essay. They let your readers think of an image.

Outline of a Reflective Essay

The reason why it is being called “reflective” is that the writer should examine his or her life experiences. Th main purpose of a reflective essay is to give the writer an opportunity to explore the changes he encountered in his or her life and learning he or she found from it.

The format may vary depending on the type of audience you want. It may be academic or a general piece of writing. When you have already decided to write a reflective essay, you should keep in mind that this type of essay is highly personal. You will be given a chance to take a look back at your experiences and how those experiences influence your present behavior and how your life has been changed by it. Some reflective essays include real-life experiences, imagined experience, an object, a place, a person even something that you have seen, heard or read.

Below is an outline of a reflective essay:

Your outline should establish details for your output – it is always important to prioritize the information that are on point and is relevant to what you aim to talk about.

Your outline will serve as you guide map – always make sure to provide a thought that is easy for your readers to understand. Do not miss any idea so that you won’t be having a hard time going back to fill in what you have missed.

Making an outline could save your time – you will be able to save a lot of time since you are already familiar with a guide that will help you focus on what you have to say. Doing so will make you give more time in editing your paper to ensure quality work.

What is the point of having a hook in your essay’s introduction?

The “hook” will grab your readers’ attention in which it consists of some aspects that makes your story interesting to read.

Why do we have to write in chronological order?

This is to avoid confusion to the readers. You have to tell a story that happens in a particular time to ensure a kind of writing that is systemic and coherent.

What could be some of the main points to consider during the writing process?

First, get an inspiration through reading some of the reflective essays found in online publications or library materials. Don’t think so much to the point that you will struggle on how to begin your piece. Support your information by describing how it gives an impact to your life. Do not forget to write using 1st person point of view.

In order to achieve an efficient reflective writing, you must take into consideration that punctuations are also important. You can use a variety of punctuations if you want. Use imagery to awaken your readers’ imagination. Highlight your turning point to make your thoughts and feelings valid. Lastly, don’t forget to put the lessons you have learned from those experiences.

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The High School Experience: A Personal Reflection

Filled+with+growth+and+life+lessons%2C+the+high+school+experience+has+been+a+journey+worth+the+climb.

Filled with growth and life lessons, the high school experience has been a journey worth the climb.

Anna Waldron , Editor May 4, 2022

High school is arguably the most transformative time of a person’s life. My own experience has been filled with more memories, laughter, stress, and — most importantly, growth — than I ever could have anticipated when I began. 

The lessons I have learned about myself, about others, and about the world in the last four years have shaped who I am today, and that person is far from the naive 14-year-old girl who walked through those glass doors of La Salle nearly four years ago. I was oblivious to the overwhelming emotional distress that I would feel when I started high school. 

In some ways, it feels like an everyday battle. 

As a freshman, the struggle began with adjusting to what felt like a whole new world. I was desperately trying to make friends, considering I had only one. I never knew what it was like to feel alone in a school with so many people. I felt like I had to act a certain way or be a certain person in order to maintain a basic conversation with people in my classes or on my soccer team. 

Every day, my head was filled with an overwhelming concern about how I could manage to make myself look like someone with more friends than I actually had at the time. 

I remember constantly thinking, “I’ll start enjoying this at some point, right?” 

The truth is, I did. 

To anyone who is feeling the way I once felt, please know that those feelings do go away. By the end of my freshman year and into the next, I enjoyed myself. School wasn’t particularly challenging, and I was spending my weekends having fun with my friends and going to basketball games and sleepovers. I had finally created a routine and felt mostly content with my life, aside from daunting thoughts in my head telling me it was all a lie.

I think that’s something that all teenagers deal with. It comes with the age, the questions, “do my friends actually like me?” or “am I enough?” — “do people worry about me or have I tricked myself into thinking they do?” 

I continued to move throughout my sophomore year feeling a new level of comfort with my life. Then, the pandemic hit. 

The original two weeks of quarantine turned into two months, and then two years. The predictable high school experience I had become accustomed to was no longer my reality, and instead, high school turned into an atypical rollercoaster of isolation from all the essential parts of the experience. 

To say it was hard would be an understatement, but after the initial forced adjustment to a remote life, I was forced to be content without relying on others.

Without having to fear other people’s judgments of me or having to conceal myself in social situations to appear more “acceptable,” I gained independence and confidence within myself that I didn’t know existed.

Then finally — after over a year — the long-awaited return to school arrived. 

I rejoiced in my ability to thrive academically again and I was so relieved to feel like I was really learning. I reconnected with my friends, ate lunch outside, took finals, and then — after a blur of two months — the year ended. My junior year flew by like no other. 

When senior year rolled around, I felt out of place. I couldn’t imagine a world where I belonged to the oldest class at the school. In the beginning, it was odd getting used to, but after a few weeks, it was nothing but a thrill as I planned what the next weekend alongside my friends would hold. 

My friendships were flourishing and I was becoming closer and closer with people I had never really gotten to know. 

Unlike the three years prior, my senior year has felt like a stereotypical high school experience, and I could not be more grateful for it. 

I always thought of myself as someone who was above enjoying things like attending soccer games, getting ready for homecoming with my friends, singing karaoke in someone’s basement, or going to a trampoline park for an 18-year-old’s birthday party. 

The truth is, I’m not. 

I regret that I spent so long depriving myself of the things I love in order to fit a narrative that I created for myself. 

I love that I will graduate high school happier and more fulfilled than I ever felt during my other three years here. It feels like everything has finally come full circle, after all these years of feeling so alone. 

So yes, it was transformative. I am finally content with the person I have become and the life I have chosen to lead. I wouldn’t be the same without La Salle and I wouldn’t be the same without the people I’ve gotten to know here. 

I know that I will look back on my high school experience here, not feeling critical of the insecurities I have felt, but feeling grateful for the memories and lessons that came regardless of them. 

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high school reflection essay

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Home Essay Examples Education High School

High School Reflections

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Many people would tell us that our high school years “are the best years of our lives”. How when we walk across the stage in June, nothing would ever be the same, for the better or for the worst. As a graduating senior, I thought it would only be appropriate to write an essay reflecting on these four years, filled with intolerable essays, nerve-wracking exams, and excessive homework.

These past four years, I realized that I was able to learn a lot about myself such as my work habits, attitudes, weaknesses, and strengths. The first thing I learned freshman year was responsibility. Coming from a middle school where teachers only cared if I turned in my school assignments, and were not held liable for whether or not I understood the lessons or even showed up to class. I had to learn to take initiative if I didn’t understand something. I was responsible for asking for help when needed, and showing up to class every day to receive an education.

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I was also able to learn about what my parents told me, how the friends we surround ourselves with can have an influence on our beliefs, attitudes, and future actions to be true. Unfortunately, I was the one who fell into the “negative” friend group during my sophomore year. My grades dropped drastically because I had this “herd-mentality”. I saw that my then friends would not try in class, so I would not try either to fit in. When report cards came and I was able to see how many classes I was failing, my heart dropped to the floor. I realized then and

there that there would be a possibility that I would not be able to graduate on time if I hung out with my “friends”. I did the responsible thing and set up a meeting with my counsellors and they helped me get back on track. I learned to surround myself with friends who help you learn from your mistakes, are able to teach you new skills, and help you become the best possible person.

During my sophomore year, many upperclassmen would tell me that junior year was the “hardest” year. Yes, junior year was hard, but it also thought me about time-management. I was able to learn how to schedule tasks, and to prioritize my tasks and goals based on how much they were worth. When I start college I would be able to learn how to properly manage my time, and how to handle all the stress of paying with my tuition, going to classes, and managing any extra curriculums.

Lastly, I learned to accept everyone regardless of their background. I am so grateful to have been able to attend such a diverse highschool with so many different races and backgrounds. I was able to see how although my fellow peers might have different skin colours, our cultures held many similarities. With learning about all these different ethnicity’s it helped me better connect and find out who I am. I couple of years back learned that my great-great-grandpa was a Native American. With the help of some fellow peers, I was able to learn more about Native American culture and connect to my roots.

In conclusion, although highschool had many ups and downs what those people said about these years being “the best years of my life” can be understood. Highschool is that sweet spot where we do not yet have a lot of responsibilities that the college students have, or are treated like children like middle schoolers. In a way, I am going to miss high school because of the amazing friends, and work ethics I was able to make along the way. 

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — School — Looking Back on My High School Experience: the Best I’ve Ever Had

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Looking Back on My High School Experience: The Best I've Ever Had

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Published: Apr 5, 2023

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high school reflection essay

Home / Essay Samples / Education / High School / Personal Reflection About Senior High School Journey

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