HIV/AIDS in the South-East Asia

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infects cells of the immune system, destroying or impairing their function. This leads to progressive deterioration of the immune system, leading to "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)". The immune deficient system can no longer fulfill its role of fighting infection and person starts getting various "opportunistic infections". In 2018, out of the 37.9 people living with HIV globally, 3.8 million were living in 11 countries of the South-East Asia Region of WHO.

HIV can be transmitted only through four major routes - unprotected vaginal or anal sexual intercourse, transfusion of contaminated blood; and the sharing of contaminated needles, syringes, surgical equipment or other sharp instruments. It may also be transmitted from a mother to her infant during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs are used in the treatment and prevention of HIV infection. They fight HIV by stopping or interfering with the reproduction of the virus in the body, reducing the amount of virus in the body. By 2018, 23.3 million people were receiving HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) globally, of which two million are from countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region.