AIDS(Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)is a medical condition caused by HIV(Human Immunedeficiency Virus)，a virus which damages people’s natural defenses against disease.So far，no cure has been found for it.
In the early mid1980s，while other parts of the world were beginning to deal with the serious disease，Asia remained relatively unaffected by this newlydiscovered health problem.By the early 1990s，however，HIV and AIDS had hit several Asian countries，and by the end of that decade，HIV was spreading rapidly in many areas of the continent.Today，HIV and AIDS are a growing problem in every region of Asia.The latest statistics produced by UNAIDS suggest that in 2008，over 5 million people were living with HIV or AIDS in Asia.
Various factors cause the spread of HIV，including poverty，inequality，unequal status of women，cultural myths about sex and high levels of migration(移民)．Although it’s useful to understand the situation of AIDS in Asia as a whole，each country in the region faces a different situation.In Cambodia and Thailand，there has been evidence of declines in HIV infection levels.In Indonesia，Pakistan and Vietnam，meanwhile，the number of people living with HIV has rapidly increased.In China，the number of people newly infected with HIV and AIDS is also rising，although at a much slower pace.
Much improvement is needed to prevent HIV and AIDS around Asia.New guidelines and policy documents have been continually issued over the years.Most of the successful programs do have at least three features in common.Firstly，these programs encourage HIV and AIDS education among the general population to teach people how to avoid infection and to face discrimination.Secondly，they are very practical and they involve the infected people themselves in program design and implementation(实施)．Last but not least，strong leadership is essential for HIV prevention.If all of the leaders truly committed themselves to this cause，then a great many lives would be saved.
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Overview
of HIV and AIDS in Asia |
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The
__1__of AIDS |
HIV，a virus __2__ the body’s immune system. |
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The
past situation |
In
the early mid1980s，with other parts of the world
troubled with the serious disease，Asia
remained __3__ by this newlydiscovered health problem. In the early 1990s，HIV and AIDS __4__ only several Asian countries，but HIV was spreading rapidly in the next 10 years in Asia. |
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The
__5__ situation |
AIDS/HIV
is a growing problem in every region，over
5 million people __6__ HIV or AIDS. Asian countries are facing __7__ situations today. |
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The
improvement to prevent HIV and AIDS |
Most
of the successful programs have __8__ in common. __9__ people to be educated about how to avoid infection and face discrimination. Being practical and getting the infected people __10__ in the program design and implementation. Leaders’ taking an active part in the cause. |