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Online Campaign www.vir.us Launches 

According to the results of a global youth survey launched today by Standard Chartered and AIESEC International, the world’s largest student organisation, although 84 per cent of young people believe the HIV and AIDS epidemic remains one of the great challenges of our time, almost 50% per cent admit to not knowing enough about the killer virus.

In fact, over a third didn’t realise condoms are an effective method of preventing sexual transmission, and nearly a quarter admitted they would not always use a condom when having sex.  This could explain why almost half of the world’s new HIV infections occur among 15 to 24 year olds (largely as a result of unprotected sexual activity, according to the latest UNAIDS statistics).

Over 1,500 members of AIESEC International responded to the survey, spanning 99 countries.  Whilst two thirds of them view HIV and AIDS as a major problem in their own countries, despite concerted efforts by health agencies to educate younger generations across the world, a third feel that there is little information available to them.

However, when asked where they would turn to for information on HIV and AIDS, the internet was overwhelmingly cited as the first port of call.  Over 94 per cent said they would go online ahead of talking to health professionals (61 per cent) or friends (59 per cent) or family (25 per cent).

The news comes as Standard Chartered launches www.vir.us – a first-of-its-kind animated website aimed at educating a web-savvy young audience about HIV and AIDS.   The story of Mr HIV and his plan to attack and destroy the human race is told through six fast-moving, animated videos, which provide a fun and fresh approach to learning about HIV and AIDS and are subtitled in 10 different languages.

The innovative www.vir.us campaign supplements the Bank’s HIV education programme, Living with HIV, a preventative intervention strategy to reduce the number of global infections.  “As there is no cure or vaccine for HIV, the only way to tackle AIDS is to prevent new HIV infections – either by stopping people getting the virus in the first place, or preventing people with HIV from passing it on.  Education is key: knowing the facts allows people to make safe lifestyle choices,” said Vanessa Green, who heads Living with HIV. The fully interactive website also incorporates downloadable factsheets about HIV and AIDS; blogs from the Bank’s HIV Champions in various countries; a real time counter of those educated; an interactive map tracking the number of people protected through the website; and features partner organisations working with Standard Chartered on HIV education.

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About the survey:

The survey was conducted amongst AIESEC members in 2Q 2009. There were 1,566 respondents based in 99 different countries. 85% of respondents were under 25 years old and the majority were university educated.

About Living with HIV:

Standard Chartered Bank’s award-winning HIV and AIDS education programme, Living with HIV, is a preventative intervention strategy to reduce the number of global HIV infections.  Standard Chartered has been involved in workplace HIV education since 1999, beginning the programme in Africa, then  rolling it out worldwide in 2003, both within the Bank and wider community.

Through partnerships with other organizations, the Bank aims to educate one million people about HIV and AIDS by 2010, sharing free of charge resources, models and tools—including face-to-face sessions, an online e-learning module and the animated web-Learning at www.vir.us —that the company has developed during ten years of experience conducting HIV education for its employees. All the HIV education tools are available in 10 languages, and Living with HIV uses a volunteer network of “HIV Champions” who educate their peers about HIV—including components on reducing stigma and encouraging people to get tested for HIV. 

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