HIV continues to spread rapidly,it is the 4th biggest killer in the world(after heart disease, stroke and respiratory diseases).Across the world, in many early cases male homosexuals and i.v. drug abusers were concentrated but as the epidemic has spread there has been progressive shift towards heterosexual transmission and increasing HIV infection rates and deaths in females. The age patterns of infection are significantly different for the two sexes. Beyond the statistics of sex based differences in infection rates, there are profound differences in the underlying causes and consequences of HIV/AIDS infections in male and female reflecting differences in biology, sexual behaviour, social attitudes and pressures, economic power and vulnerability. It is for these reasons that HIV/AIDS is inherently a gender based issue and should be addressed effectively.HIV/AIDS will only be conquered when the effort to achieve gender equality is successful.