In 1981, the world witnessed an increasing epidemic caused by a new, previously not studied disease, that just a year later would be named Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) . The syndrome is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), with AIDS developing at the advanced stages of infection. According to the World Health Organization, “HIV is spread from the body fluids of an infected person, including blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluids.” Furthermore, “it targets the body’s white blood cells, weakening the immune system,” making even the common cold potentially deadly for the infected person.
Contrary to the widespread beliefs that only gay men are susceptible or are more susceptible to contracting HIV/AIDS, people of any age, gender, and sexuality can become infected and live with the disease. According to the 2024 AIDSVu study, women compiled “23 [per cent] of all people living with HIV” as of 2021, while also being “less likely to perceive themselves as at risk for HIV.”
In addition, Black transgender women are disproportionately affected by the disease: a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study showed that “Black transgender women accounted for 62 [per cent] of HIV infections among transgender women with HIV living in seven major U.S. cities.”
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is marked every year on March 10 to help spread awareness of prejudice and gender discrimination in diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS. This year’s theme is ‘Hope, Health, and Healing: Overcoming Barriers to HIV/AIDS Treatment for Women and Girls,’ reports Office of Women’s Health, focusing on “addressing the challenges women and girls face in accessing HIV/AIDS treatment and eliminating barriers to health care access for women and girls with HIV/AIDS.”
Check out some resources by Women & HIV/AIDS Initiative at https://whai.ca/resources/, the Office of Women’s Health at https://womenshealth.gov/nwghaad, and recent statistics concerning HIV/AIDS from the Government of Canada at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/hiv-2022-surveillance-highlights.html.
