Aids In Africa

AIDS In Sub-Sahara Africa

Fifty million people infected 22 million dead this is the reality of HIV/AIDS in Africa. The thesis of this report is the AIDS "pandemic" in Africa, specifically Africa South of the Sahara. This report will discuss the impact AIDS in having on the region. First let us discuss the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic. PANDEMIC is an epidemic over a wide geographic area (usually world-wide), affecting large numbers of people at the same time. EPIDEMIC is a disease or event that occurs in many more people than would normally be expected over a given period of time.

Africa is where scientist believe the HIV/AIDS virus originated and is now at the

heart of the AIDS epidemic. Africa has a little more than ten percent of the worlds

population, but it has more than sixty percent of the people who are infected with the

HIV/AIDS virus.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the region HIV & AIDS has hit the hardest. It is estimated

that 25.8 million people will be living with HIV at the end of 2005 with approximately

3.1 million new cases occurring during this year. Just in the past year the virus has

claimed the lives of an estimated 2.4 million people.

The countries with the highest rate of infection are all located in Sub-Sahara

Africa. "In four southern African countries, the national adult HIV prevalence rate has

risen higher than was thought possible and now exceeds 24%. These countries are

Botswana (37.3%), Lesotho (28.9%), Swaziland (38.8%) and Zimbabwe (24.6%)."

Unlike in the Western world where AIDS primarily targets homosexuals and

intravenous drug users, in Africa it is a heterosexual disease, with the infection rate 20

percent higher among women than men.

The life expectancy has fallen to as low as 47 years as compared to 62 years of

age without HIV/AIDS. This is leaving the very old to care for the very young. In most

countries AIDS is destroying years of development.

AIDS is affecting all aspects of life in these countries. When someone dies,

usually the main wage earner, it can create a severe financial burden on the surviving

family members. The remaining members must find another source of income as well as

pay for a funeral. It also leaves children without parents. It is estimated that AIDS has

left 12 million children without parents. With this number expected to rise to more than

18 million by 2010. The age of these children is pretty consistent across most countries.

With about 15 percent of orphans being 0-4 years old, 35 percent being 5-9 years old, and

50 percent being 10-14 years old. The majority of these people are poor, losing a family

member makes the family even more improvised. Some children go to live with

relatives already in dire financial straights. Adding more children only intensifies the

issue.

In Africa you must pay to send your children to school. The majority of the

families who are taking in a relative's child can barely afford an education for their own

children. So the education system is being affected not only by lack of students, but by

the deaths of educators from AIDS. As teachers die there is no one to replace them and

this is also causing serious education issues.

HIV/AIDS is also affecting the labor force, setting back economic progress and

social progress. The majority of people infected with HIV/AIDS are between the ages of

15 and 49. AIDS impacts the labor force due to the loss of so many in the usual age

range of workers. More people have died of this dreadful disease than all the wars of the

twentieth centaury.

With all the HIV and AIDS related cases in the region some would ask "Why

don't they wear condoms?" Among Africans there is a stigmata associated with the

wearing of a condom. Women are labeled "whore" and "prostitute" and were beaten and

thrown into the street if they were to ask their partner to wear a condom.

In most African countries people do not use the term "AIDS". They say someone

has T.B. or malaria. If a person does admit they have AIDS they could be shunned and

ridiculed by family, friends, and society. There have been some incidents of people

being stoned to death. Until recently doctors had not been allowed to put the words

HIV/AIDS in a persons medical file.

Hospitals are packed with dying people who are seeking just the smallest amount

of relief from their pain and suffering. We, the Western world need to do more to help

curb this horrific "pandemic". With the modern ability to travel outside of their home

countries how long do you think it will be before this is no longer an issue in Africa?

People will travel and it