Society's fittest, not its frailest, are the ones who die -adults spirited away, leaving the old and the children behind. HIV infection rates of Ethiopian magnitude severely affect the country's economic progress. An HIV+ man slowly makes his way back to his room after having taken his medicines. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

20% of all hospital beds in EthiopiaTHE are occupied by AIDS patients. This has led to a severe burden for health service provision in the country. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

Many HIV+ persons are so poor to sustain themselves after becoming sick that they have to seek refuge in some of the organizations found in the country. As they wait for either recovery or death, they witness how others get better, or die. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

85% of the population live in rural areas, where the spread of AIDS is higher. Most prostitutes come from rural areas to the urban centers in search of work. A 15 year-old prostitute gets ready before the night begins, in one of the many brothels that are found around the country. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

Most HIV infections in Ethiopia are concentrated in the 15–24 age group, and young women are particularly vulnerable. The majority do not know how or when they caught the virus, many never know they have it, and many who do know don't tell anyone as they lie dying. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

Mother-to-child transmission contributes the second highest number of new HIV infections each year. Current sources estimate that the number of children orphaned by AIDS is between 990,000 and 1.2 million. This blind and HIV+ boy was abandoned when he was a baby and could not be given up for adoption due to his HIV status. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

Most HIV infections in Ethiopia are concentrated in the 15–24 age group, and young women are particularly vulnerable. The majority do not know how or when they caught the virus, many never know they have it, and many who do know don't tell anyone as they lie dying. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

Ignorance is the crucial reason the epidemic has run out of control. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

It is presumed that if you get AIDS, you have done something wrong. HIV labels you as living an immoral life. Ethiopia's big stigma regarding the disease means that many HIV+ are expelled from their families and have no other option but to face their future alone, either in crowded hospitals or in one of the organizations set up by local NGOs. Northern Ehiopia, 2006.

Mother-to-child transmission contributes the second highest number of new HIV infections each year. Current sources estimate that the number of children orphaned by AIDS is between 990,000 and 1.2 million. An HIV+ baby is taken care of in one of the organizations that accept abandoned babies sick with the disease. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

A woman affected by HIV/AIDS is plunged further into poverty, losing the ability to provide for herself and her children. This woman's husband had died of AIDS 7 years ago. Now suffering from AIDS herself, and unable to maintain her two children, she had to rely on her mother to be able to survive, eating one meal a day and not having enough money to buy medicines. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

Ignorance is the crucial reason the epidemic has run out of control. This young man was a farmer and a music player. After becoming HIV+, his hands couldn't play any instrument any more. His wife, who presumably got infected with HIV from him, was still healthier and took care of him in the hostpital. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

Heterosexual transmission is responsible for most infections. Due to the lack of awareness, it is not possible to define risk groups: everyone who is sexually active is at risk. Both men were successful layers before getting AIDS. Abandoned by their families, they now faced their future alone in one of the local NGOs that operate around the country. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

In a country where acknowledging AIDS in yourself is to be branded as monstrous, many choose not to tell their family about their HIV status, or even know about their status themselves. A young woman with AIDS gets ready for the weekly visit of her brother and sister-in-law. Her family thinks she only suffers from TB. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), approximately 3.2 million Ethiopians are living with HIV/AIDS. Many are so poor to sustain themselves after becoming sick that they have to seek refuge in some of the organizations found in the country. As they wait for either recovery or death, they witness how others get better, or die. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

A HIV+ patient fights for his life. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

Without savings to fall back on, many HIV+ parents pull their kids out of school. They can't afford the fees and end up selling their few possessions to feed the family. When they die, their kids are left with nothing. Extreme poverty forced this orphaned boy with AIDS and TB to seek refuge in one of the local NGOs that are found around the country. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

It is presumed that if you get AIDS, you have done something wrong. HIV labels you as living an immoral life. Ethiopia's big stigma regarding the disease means that many HIV+ are expelled from their families and have no other option but to face their future alone, either in crowded hospitals or in one of the organizations set up by local NGOs. Northern Ehiopia, 2006.

Babies suffering from AIDS. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.

Despite anticipated improvements in the health sector, it is projected that with an HIV epidemic by 2014, Ethiopians will live to 50 years rather than 59 years. The person in the image, facing a near-death situation, was from a remote, rural area, where the lack of information on AIDs prevention is detrimental to stopping the spread of disease. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.