Sexual and Reproductive Health
Every year around 350,000 women die as a consequence of pregnancy and birth—and of this, 99 per cent occur in developing countries although most deaths could be prevented (read more >). DSW implements development projects and does advocacy work in order to increase access to health care services. Attention needs to be raised to assure a healthy young population and safe motherhood. Therefore, sexual and reproductive health and rights need to be a subject that is advanced to the top of the political agenda.
Our basic concept refers back to the Cairo Programme of Action of 1994. Ever since, sexual and reproductive health has become a major concern around the world. Starting in 2000, eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were signed by 189 member states of the United Nations (UN). MDG 5 aims to combat maternal deaths by decreasing its number by three-quarters and assuring universal access to reproductive health. Today, this remains the MDG with the least progress.
HIV / AIDS
The HI (Human Immunodeficiency) virus is transmitted through blood and body fluids. The main transmission routes are unsafe sex, contact with infected blood (e.g. through blood transfusions, wounds or unclean medical instruments) and transmission by a HIV positive mother to her child during pregnancy or breast feeding. The HI virus causes the fatal condition of AIDS and is spread all over the world in varying degrees of prevalence.
Currently there are more than 34 million people living with HIV/AIDS. In 2010, 2.7 million people were infected with the HI virus and 1.8 million died from AIDS. HIV/AIDS prevalence is particularly high in developing countries. Most of the people with HIV/AIDS - almost 23 million - live in sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, HIV/AIDS is almost always transmitted through sex or mother-to-child contact. Almost 60% of those infected by HIV in the region are female, because for physiological and social reasons women and girls are more vulnerable to infection than men. Most of the people directly affected are at sexually active age between 15 and 49 years old, which is also the age at which the people living in the re¬gion are working and responsible for providing for their families. This means in practical terms that HIV/AIDS in developing countries first of all saps the productive strength of a society, which to a great extent nullifies development efforts.
HIV/AIDS is a sub-area of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), as it is not only deemed a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) but also has similar or even the same causes. The well-tested SRHR services provide information on risks of infection and prevention methods such as male and female condoms. Awareness raising and behavior change programmes for young people are an important measure to prevent HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is treatable, but not curable. Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is available to only few people in developing countries, as it is still very expensive and most people affected by HIV/AIDS live in great poverty.
Since the mid-1990s, HIV/AIDS has also been widely recognized internationally. A milestone of international commitment was the first United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) in 2001 and the follow-up 2006 High-Level Meeting on AIDS UNGASS+5 in Summer 2006 in New York. Also the establishment of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis (GFATM) in 2001 as a partnership of governments, civil society and the private sector has been an important contribution in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
