Faces of HIV Care

December 01, 2009, —

There are approximately 33 million adults and children with

HIV worldwide. Every 12 seconds someone is infected with the HIV and every 17

seconds someone dies from AIDS.

The HIV pandemic reaches all corners of the world. While it has

hit hardest in sub-Saharan Africa, where 22 million have the virus, it extends

throughout Africa, Asia, North and South America, Australia, Europe, and the

Middle East. Catholic Relief Services began our work in HIV prevention and care

in 1986 in Bangkok, Thailand. Today, CRS has supported more than 280 HIV and

AIDS projects in 62 countries.

CRS works in partnership with other faith-based and nongovernmental

organizations to support more than 4.8 million people with HIV and AIDS. We affirm

human dignity while providing initial testing, counseling, nutritional support,

antiretroviral therapy, support groups, and home-based and palliative care.