HIV/ AIDS, the name of the disease is still taboo and strikes fear in the heart of the common man. Caused by the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus, the Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome has so far taken more than 42.3 million lives so far. This is mainly because of the stigma and myths around this chronic condition, in this day of modern medicine, it remains largely manageable when diagnosed and treated consistently.
AIDS is the last stage of an HIV infection and it rakes about 10 years of untreated HIV to cause AIDS. About 13% of the deaths due to HIV is because the patient wasn’t aware of being infected. So, it is very important to have regular HIV tests taken by everyone, ensuring that deaths don’t occur due to unawareness.
There are several Non-Government Organisations that work toward creating awareness and provide care and relief to those affected by HIV. Here are the top 10 – UNAIDS, The Global Fund, amfAR, International AIDS Society, Black AIDS Institute, Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Keep a Child Alive, Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation, AVERT.
- UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, founded 1996)
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, this UN Programme helps over 193 countries. It provides programmes for preventions and treatment, monitoring and reporting about the disease from around the world, provisioning ART (Anti Retroviral Therapy) and importantly promoting development of policies that help respond to the epidemic and advocate for the rights f those affected by AIDS.
- The Global Fund (founded 2002)
This NGO working out of Geneva, Switzerland, works in over 100 countries to provide financial support for preventing, diagnosing, educating AIDS and in distributing ART. It also focuses on strengthening of the health programs in these countries.
- amfAR (founded 1985)
The Foundation of AIDS Research, operating out of New York, USA, provides care in the US and several developing countries. It aims on biomedical Research for HIV in the efforts for finding a vaccine to cure AIDS. It conducts programs for the prevention of and education about AIDS while also advocating for evidence based policies.
- IAS (International AIDS Society, founded 1988)
Headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland, this organization with a global reach promotes care and awareness through the International AIDS conferences and several other forums in the scientific community. It provides treatment and care globally and promotes practices for prevention.
- Black AIDS Institute (founded 1999)
Operating chiefly in the US, this NGO, stationed at Los Angeles, runs programs to prevent, educate, test and treat the African-American communities. It also champions policies that reduce health disparities, community mobilization and initiate capacity building.
- Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS (founded 1988)
Centred in New York, USA, it gives funding for food, shelter, medicines and other treatments for patients. It also has programs to prevent and spread awareness about HIV.
- Elton John AIDS Foundation (founded 1992)
Stoned in both London, UK and New York, USA and spread across 50 Nations, this NGO tackles efforts for counselling, harm reduction, decriminalization of AIDS patients among the vulnerable population. It also funds public campaigns and programs to educate, prevent, test and treat the disease.
- Keep a Child Alive (founded 2003)
Deployed from New York, USA, they aid in clinical and psychosocial efforts in Sub- Saharan countries and India. They are partial toward the care of the mothers and children with AIDS in the marginalized communities.
- Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation (founded 1988)
Founded in Washington D.C., USA, the EGPAF concentrates on helping over 19 African countries in the transmission if the disease through birth. It gives funds for research toward the Paediatric patients and for their care and treatment as well.
- AVERT ( AIDS Virus Education Research Trust, founded 1986)
Based in Brighton, UK, the AVERT focuses on the African and South Asian countries to create awareness about ART, clear the misconceptions around the disease and also aid in the prevention and testing in these communities.
