One of the most significant challenges facing humankind is HIV/AIDS. Specifically, Ontario’s struggle to assist HIV/AIDS patients has also encountered difficulties. This essay intends to provide information regarding the devastating HIV/AIDS pandemic in Ontario, Canada. It is helpful to be informed about HIV/AIDS in Ontario because knowing more will help prevent it; the more individuals become aware of this pandemic, the more likely they will take measures to defend against it. To be informed about preventing HIV/AIDS, one must consider 1) the biological effects of HIV/AIDS, 2) how people develop HIV/AIDS, and 3) how anyone could assist local areas in Ontario with HIV/AIDS donations.

To understand how to defend against HIV/AIDS, it is essential to understand what HIV/AIDS is. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a series of infections and symptoms caused by a damaged immune system. The immune system produces and distributes white blood cells to fight illnesses. Landau-Stanton (1993) states that HIV positives are afflicted severely by common diseases, which become “opportunistic infections [that are] used as AIDS diagnostic criteria (Landau-Stanton, 1993, p. 7). Landau-Stanton explains that an opportunistic infection arises from individuals without a healthy immune system (immunodeficiency), caused by malnutrition, skin damage, genetic predisposition, antibiotic treatment, medical procedures, recurrent infections or HIV/AIDS (Landau-Stanton, 1993, p. 20). HIV/AIDS targets the white blood cells responsible for fighting common illnesses. The body cannot defend itself against common diseases if its white blood cells are damaged or destroyed. HIV/AIDS-positive individuals are more susceptible to common diseases such as influenza, allergies, sun damage, etc… Hence, the effect of these common illnesses results in a chain reaction that negatively influences other organs by weakening their performance, resulting in death that may take two weeks up to twenty years (Landau-Stanton, 1993, p. 20). Moving onward, understanding HIV/AIDS nature is one of the cornerstones for prevention.
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The next step in ensuring anyone’s defence against HIV/AIDS depends on understanding how one acquires the virus. The World Health Organization (WHO), a branch of the United Nations responsible for coordinating international public health, noted that HIV/AIDS is spread by transmitting bodily fluids containing HIV into the bloodstream. For example, anyone is susceptible to HIV/AIDS through direct contact with semen, blood, breast milk, and pre-seminal fluid (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention 121). This transmission can be acquired through the exposure of the following: blood transfusion, intercourse, an exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, or other orientation to one of the above bodily fluids (Health Canada). Much controversy arises from homosexual relationships between men. The AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) reported in 2004 that “Men account for 85.6% of all positive HIV test reports in Ontario,” and, from those statistics, “Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) 67.5%” reinforced a significant part of HIV/AIDS contact in men. Also, ACT reported that Ontario has seen the most staggering increase in HIV test reports in Canada with a total of 26,706.” Often, doctors recommend that both partners seek medical examination before engaging in sexual activity, warning doctors that either partner may have HIV/AIDS (Landau-Stanton, 1993, p. 34). These simple steps significantly improve the overall reduction in HIV/AIDS spread; doctors emphasise this goal.

Furthermore, doctors apply for an HIV test to see if an individual has the disease. Knowing if either partner is HIV-positive helps significantly reduce the spread of the virus. Understanding how HIV/AIDS is transmitted will help anyone prevent the virus from destroying their health and take action to avoid targeting them.
Beyond the individuals attempting to prevent the virus from spreading to themselves, significant groups and associations are participating in demonstrations to heighten awareness about HIV/AIDS. In Canada, fifty-one associations participate in counselling, assisting patients by offering support groups, providing education about HIV/AIDS, and providing funding for treatment (UNAIDS). Eleven centres in Ontario are actively pursuing education and financial assistance for HIV-positive individuals (UNAIDS). Unfortunately, no cure has been found to isolate and eliminate HIV/AIDS. As a countermeasure, agencies throughout Canada are increasing HIV/AIDS awareness. These agencies assert that the more individuals know about the virus, the more likely they will avoid contracting it. Canada has developed a comprehensive method to renew HIV/AIDS funding annually. The Canadian International Development Agency reported that Canada would assist recognised programs with a track record of achieving results. These programs provided Canadians $ 250 million in 2007 and 2008 to fight and find a cure for these devastating diseases. These agencies rely solely on individual and community funding. To increase awareness and help prevent this, anyone can donate to these fifty-one associations. These associations and groups are at the heart of raising awareness by educating individuals about the HIV/AIDS virus.
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The most significant improvement in reducing HIV/AIDS has come from awareness and prevention. Furthermore, when one acknowledges the effects of the HIV/AIDS virus, one will understand what HIV does to the human body. In addition, understanding how HIV/AIDS is transmitted plays a significant role in preventing it. Knowing how HIV is transmitted will deter individuals from becoming infected, even though there is no cure. Lastly, identifying which agencies in Canada are assisting HIV-positive individuals and spreading awareness of the contagion is helpful because anyone can donate and help keep that organisation running to serve the public. Knowing about these three corners of the issue improves awareness and prevents HIV/AIDS.

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Works Cited

ACDI-CIDA.gc. Canadian International Development Agency. January 12 2007. March 4 2007 <http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca>.

Actoronto.org. HIV/AIDS Statistics – Ontario. February 7 2006. March 7 2007 <http://www.actoronto.org/website/home.nsf/pages/hivaidsstatsont>.

Health Canada. “HIV and AIDS in Canada, a surveillance report.” Health Canada: The Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control April 5 2003: 5-25.

Landau-Stanton, Judith. Aids, Health, and Mental Health: a Primary Sourcebook. New York: Brunner-Mazel Publishers, 1993.

UNAIDS.org. United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS. February 5 2007. 2007 March 4 <http://www.unaids.org/>.

WHO.int. World Health Organization. January 23 2007. March 5 2007 <http://www.who.int/>.