ActionAid has been working on HIV and AIDS since 1987 and has been giving practical support to people living with AIDS-related diseases in 23 countries.

We work in villages, cities and the corridors of power to support groups that are campaigning to reverse the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS on millions of lives.

ActionAid helps poor and excluded people to challenge and influence governments, private corporations and other organisations to ensure their right to free and comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support.
 
ActionAid primarily supports poor and excluded women and girls living with HIV and AIDS. It does this by trying to ensure:

• An end to sexual violence, one of main reasons why HIV and AIDS levels are increasing so rapidly. It’s proven that if women can chose and manage their sexual relationships, infection rates can be managed.
• That people living with HIV and AIDS have access to anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, comprehensive prevention information, essential treatment, care, support and livelihood inheritance.
• That their livelihoods are sustainable.
• That global and local policies affecting them work in their favour.
• That organisations run by people living with HIV and AIDS are strengthened.

Access to treatment and care

In sub-Saharan Africa, a shocking 60 million people have been directly affected by the epidemic.

ActionAid is working with the governments of Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi and Ghana to establish National AIDS Commissions and community support groups that act as lifelines in hard-hit regions.

In Asia, the virus is now spreading even faster than in Africa, with 7.2 million people infected.

ActionAid is doing more work across the region to help vulnerable people such as trafficked women and girls forced into prostitution, to fight for treatment they can afford and to be informed about how they can prevent HIV infection.

Sustainable livelihoods

ActionAid has designed Stepping Stones, a training programme used by 2,000 organisations in 100 countries worldwide that helps people learn more about their sexual health, discuss changes they want and explore how to make these changes.