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HIV and AIDS

At the CAFOD-funded St Francis Home-Based Care programme in Livingstone, Zambia, volunteers are trained to care for those with HIV [Annie Bungeroth]

All around the developing world, CAFOD is fighting back against HIV and AIDS. Given the scale and urgency of the problem, this is one of CAFOD's four top priority areas of work

HIV and AIDS form one of the biggest threats, not just to health, but to human development, on our planet.

Economies are being crippled as adults are cut down in their prime, plunging families into poverty and emptying workplaces.

Around 95% of people with HIV and AIDS live in developing countries. The epidemic reverses development, as poverty increases while access to education, jobs, and healthcare goes down.

CAFOD works through its partners in three key ways:

Care: Supporting people and communities living with HIV
Prevention: Reducing the spread and impact of HIV
Advocacy: Defending the rights and dignity of people with the virus, and fighting injustices that can lead to infection

In addition, CAFOD considers carefully how HIV and AIDS could impact on any of its programmes, right across its work.

Nicholas Mukokota has started his own vegetable and herb garden with the help of CAFOD in Zimbabwe [Alessandra Magri]

Praying for a good harvest

With power-sharing talks in Zimbabwe at a standstill, CAFOD takes a look behind the headlines at how the economic crisis is affecting ordinary people

Registrar Vath Polonh with a patient in the reception area of the HIV and AIDS wing of Chey Chumneas Referral Hospital, Cambodia [Annie Bungeroth]

HIV treatment under threat

Ahead of the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, CAFOD warns the growing global food crisis threatens advances in HIV treatment

Nontobeko Nkomo and Mongameli, aged two, at Empandeni Primary School, Zimbabwe. The lack of food is reaching a critical level - many families are starving [Annie Bungeroth]

Food crisis must be tackled

While welcoming the opportunity for a new era in Zimbabwe, CAFOD warns that the power-sharing government must act immediately to avert the country’s biggest food crisis within living memory

Make HIV treatment available for all

Sign up to the new action from the Stop AIDS Campaign. CAFOD is a member of this campaign, which helps people around the world access the medicines they need to stay alive

Raise awareness around World AIDS Day

Email our HIV team to find out more about holding an event around World AIDS Day (December 1 every year) - we can support you in doing this. Plus, order our FREE leaflet "Working Positively", which provides an overview of our response to HIV and AIDS

Keep the promise

Join this campaign from the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance - of which CAFOD is a member. It aims to ensure those working to end HIV follow through on the pledges they have made, and there are loads of ways YOU can help

Published on 27/11/2007, last updated on 24/06/2008

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