CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first recognized as a disease in the early 1980s. With about five years, it became clear that a new epidemic of unprecedented proportions was spreading throughout the world. Destruction of the immune system, the main characteristics of the disease, caused patients to die from a range of opportunistic infections. Some people were reluctant to accept the evidence that HIV was the cause of AIDS, both in the West and in the East Africa (Duesbery 1988).  Many political leaders also chose to ignore or deny the importance of the expanding epidemic until after widespread transmission of HIV had already occurred.

One feature of HIV /AIDS that is highly unusual for an infectious disease is its consistently long incubation period combined with a high rate of disease developed. The disease is unique in that it regularly causes lethal disease after a prolonged induction period that lasts several years. As a result, the vast majority of HIV infected people are clinically asymptomatic and do not know they are infected unless they undergo clinical testing.

UNAIDS(2007),states that although currently incurable and fatal, AIDS is preventable. You can avoid it by making careful choices about sexual activity and drug use. Participate in an HIV education program. Until we have a vaccine and a cure, education awareness campaign and individual responsibility will be the cornerstone of any program to control this devastating epidemic.

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