Charlize Theron AIDS Prevention: 'Mad Max' Star Talks Africa Outreach Organization

Charlize Theron spoke out on AIDS prevention during a recent interview, with the actress seeking to educate more on the illness through her Africa Outreach organization. The Mad Max star did an appearance on The Today Show earlier today, where she discussed HIV/AIDS with the hosts, putting out some of the shocking statistics behind the terminal disease, and what her Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project is doing.

"A lot of people assume that we've come a long way with HIV/AIDs—and we have, especially over the last decade. But HIV/AIDS is still the No. 1 killer of women of a reproductive age worldwide. It's something that we still really need to care about because it's really disproportionately hitting young girls and young women,” she told the hosts.

"We've seen a stability or a decrease in a lot of the infection rates across the board, but we are seeing an increase when it comes to youth and adolescents. Somehow we're not reaching those very, very vulnerable girls. That's what our project tries to do with our grassroots organizations on the ground,” she continued.

The actress went on, stating that her organization is working with those "who know the issues that these girls are facing with gender equality, education, or not getting the same level of education because they're basically being treated second- and third-class citizens."

Theron also mentioned that back when she was growing up, people were dying of AIDS without knowing what was the true cause. She says that people everywhere know about AIDS, can prevent it, but are still dying at a higher rate than before.

Theron is hoping that her organization and her mission helps people to be more aware of the disease, the statistics behind it, and to make a conscious effort to prevent it from their own lives.

You can learn more about her organization at its official website.