Essay on Aids: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, popularly known by its abbreviation AIDS is a fatal disease that attacks and destroys the immune system of the body. It is caused by a virus called Human Immuno Deficiency Virus or HIV in short. This virus is even invisible under a microscope and can remain in the body for years together without showing any visible symptoms. AIDS is the last stage of infection of this virus. It takes at least a period of 10 years between getting infected with HIV and reaching the stage of developing AIDS.
Students can find more English Essay Writing Topics, Ideas, Easy Tips to Write Essay Writing and many more.
Long and Short Essays on Aids for Kids and Students in English
Given below are two essays in English for students and children about the topic of ‘Aids’ in both long and short form. The first essay is a long essay on the Aids of 400-500 words. This long essay about Aids is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay on Aids of 150-200 words. These are suitable for students and children in class 6 and below.
Long Essay on Aids 500 Words in English
Below we have given a long essay on Aids of 500 words is helpful for classes 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Competitive Exam Aspirants. This long essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 7 to class 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants.
The first ever case of a person with AIDS was detected in America in 1959 and it later emerged as a dreadfully widespread disease in the 1980s in countries like France, Belgium, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe etc. In India, it was first reported in 1986.
AIDS is a fast spreading disease in the world which—if not controlled can take epidemic proportions. As per the reports of Indian Health Organisation (IHO), women and children are found to be more prone to the disease. The highest number of AIDS cases are found in Mumbai in India which is known as the AIDS capital of the country and is closely followed by Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Kolhapur.
As per the common myth, HIV infection is not contagious as measles, chicken pox, tuberculosis, cholera, plague, smallpox etc. The infection mainly spreads either sexually or through blood to blood contact. HIV spreads mainly through sexual relationship, whether heterosexual or homosexual with an infected partner, through transfusion of HIV infected blood and blood products, use of infected syringes or needles and is passed on by an infected mother to her unborn child. It is therefore, foolish to believe that HIV spreads through mosquitoes, embracing, holding, touching or kissing each other, shaking hands, coughing, sneezing, spitting, sharing of public toilets or swimming pools, sharing meals or eating from the same plates, or sharing clothes, bed sheets or attending same schools or working together.
AIDS is caused by a slow and gradual process. Medically, four stages have been defined in its long process. The initial HIV infection may show general symptoms like fever, bodyache or headache and then lie dormant for years together without showing any further signs. The infection can be passed on. Next, a person may develop enlarged glands in the neck or armpits without any pain or other symptoms. Other symptoms can be fatigue, weight-loss, chronic diarrhoea, prolonged fever, cough, night sweats etc.
Gradually, the virus damages the immune system. The last stage of the disease takes at least 10 years to culminate into a fully blown AIDS. By this time, the patient’s immune system is totally destroyed and the person gets infected by various diseases and cancers. This stage is easily recognised and a man survives for about 3-4 years after entering this stage. Two tests are carried out in order to confirm HIV infection—ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and Western Blot.
ELISA is simple and the results can be known within a few hours, but Western Blot is difficult, expensive and time consuming. December 1, every year is celebrated as World AIDS Day worldwide and in India too. Celebration of World AIDS Day is symbolically a call to enhance social protection mechanism for people with HIV and alert government in framing unbiased policies for vulnerable population so that they can enjoy an equal status in the society.
Awareness camps are held to enlighten people about the signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS. United Nation, World Health Organisation (WHO) and numerous social welfare organisations along with NGO’s are constantly striving and taking initiatives on AIDS awareness and to reach both urban and rural areas, cities and villages.
According to more recent National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) data, India has demonstrated an overall reduction in estimated annual new HIV infections (among adult population). Soon after the first cases emerged in 1 986, the Government of India established the National AIDS Committee within the Ministry: of Health and Family Welfare. The NACO has increased the number of centres providing free Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART) and more such centres are getting operational soon.
The Indian Railways gives 50% concession admissible in basic Mail/Express fares while travelling for treatment at nominated ART Centres. In 2009, India established a “National HIV and AIDS Policy and the world of work” which sought to end discrimination against workers on the basis of their real or perceived HIV status.
Under this policy all the enterprises are encouraged to establish non-discrimination, healthy-work environment, confidentiality, prevention and care, and support to its employees. UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund) is partnering with high profile supporters from the Entertainment industry to highlight the importance of community empowerment against AIDS. A number of celebrities have shown keen interest in UNICEF’s programmes and have expressed a desire to get associated with it. Celebrities worldwide are coming forward and are speaking openly about the issue to spread awareness, thereby also raising funds for the cause. On World AIDS Day, more than 80 iconic landmarks across 13 countries turn red to promote awareness of the ongoing fight against the AIDS epidemic. Celebrities like, Sereria Williams had turned-off from all social media on (December 1) AIDS Day to lament the death of AIDS victims.
These days there are films like ‘My Brother Nikhil’, ‘Kaminey’ amongst other which have talked about AIDS. Media too is helping to spread awareness with repetitive advertisements on the issue wherein employees resign from their office as their co-worker was terminated for having AIDS; or latest being doctors avoiding AIDS infected pregnant woman. Government too is spreading awareness through large number of hoardings and installing contraceptive vending machines in public toilets. International Cricket Council (ICC) too have collaborated with the United Nations to spread awareness against HIV. Nelson Mandela once quoted:
“AIDS today in Africa is claiming more lives than the sum total of all wars,
famines, floods and ravages of diseases such as malaria.”
Short Essay on Aids 200 Words in English
Below we have given a short essay on Aids is for Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. This short essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 6 and below.
What had initially been thought of as a homosexual disease has emerged as one of the most widespread one among men, women and children of all ages. The diseases in many ways—strikes at the very foundation of the smallest unit of society—the family. The victims and their families go through a phase of emotional trauma, social isolation and are shattered financially. The victims are ousted from their jobs, disowned by their families and turned down everywhere. The facilities currently available to treat this disease are inadequate. More and more medical colleges, hospitals and counselling centres need to be developed.
Scientists across the globe are trying to invent/come out with more sensitive, affordable techniques to test the signs of HIV at an early stage. Yet, more and more awareness about the disease, its causes and treatment should be created among the masses. Schools and colleges can be a very effective medium of creating awareness among the youth. These youths in turn can be instrumental in spreading awareness among the other sections of the society. HIV patients need to be cared with compassion and be allowed to live and die with dignity. Voluntary organisations can help the government in accomplishing this task by various means of advertising, performing street plays, conducting seminars and involving the youth.
Aids Essay Word Meanings for Simple Understanding
- Fatal – causing death
- Detected – discover, identify
- Epidemic – widespread, rampant, extensive
- Proportions – a part, share or number, amount
- Myth – a widely held but false belief or idea
- Contagious – communicable, transmittable, infectious
- Transfusion – the transfer/introduction of blood or blood plasma into a vein or artery
- Syringe – a medical instrument used to inject or withdraw fluids
- Embracing – the act of clasping another person in the arms affectionately
- Culminate – end up, conclude, to reach the highest point
- Vulnerable – capable of being physically or emotionally hurt
- Enlighten – give greater knowledge and understanding about a subject or situation
- Striving – to exert much effort or energy, to struggle
- Lament – to express grief, sorrow
- Terminated – to bring to an end, dismiss
- Contraceptive – birth control device
- Ravages – to bring heavy destruction or devastate
- Trauma – distressing experience, suffering