Why do something?
"My husband died, and he died of HIV and AIDS", says Rose from Kenya.
Following her husband’s death four years ago, Rose found out that she was also HIV positive. She went to AMPATH clinic where she was given ARVs to reduce the effect of the HIV virus.
“I have been taking ARVs for the last three years and I have been doing very well”, explains Rose. "I never went to bed and I was never sick... it really boosted up my immunity and I'm doing very, very well."
Now Rose works at AGRI, a farm supported by VSO that helps people living with HIV to have the nutritious diet that is essential for ARV drugs to work.
Thanks to the ARV treatment and support from AGRI, Rose is able to have a normal life and job. She’s also helping prevent the spread of HIV in her community. "I've been going round all the farms teaching them about HIV and AIDs, STDs and how to visit the services", Rose tells us.
Rose, however, is one of the lucky few.
There are over 40 million people worldwide now living with HIV and AIDS, yet only 1 in 4 people currently receive the vital life-saving treatment they need.
Choose your action
In 2005, world leaders promised HIV prevention, treatment and care for everyone by 2010. With just over two years to go, we need your support to help make sure the UK Government doesn’t forget this promise.
Rose is doing her bit to give people in her community hope for the future. This is your opportunity to make sure our leaders do their bit too. Visit the Stop AIDS Campaign website and get your voice heard.