World Aids Pandemic

World AIDS Pandemic:

The Ravaging of Botswana, Malawi, and Lesotho

Pandemic is defined as “a disease prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world; an epidemic over a larger area.” (www.dictionary.com) “More than 22 million people have died from AIDS worldwide, and over 42 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, with 74 percent of those infected living in sub-Saharan African countries such as Botswana, Lesotho, and Malawi. It is estimated that there are 14,000 new infections every day of which 95 percent originate from developing countries such as these.” (UNAIDS) These population implications are staggering to say the least, and deserve immediate worldwide recognition.

“It is now widely understood that the intrinsic limiting factors of the HIV/AIDS pandemic has a debilitating impact on rural farming households and the biotic potential in sub-Saharan Africa. In Southern Africa where the HIV prevalence rates continue to be the highest in the world, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has been singled out to for aggravating food insecurity and negatively impacting rural livelihoods.” (UN Economic Commission for Africa) “More than 60 percent of the people in Southern Africa reside in

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the rural areas and depend on rain-fed smallholder agriculture as the main source of survival. AIDS affects the household through its impact on the availability of these assets that are required to undertake agricultural production, and promote sustainable development throughout the region.” (UNECA) In countries such as Botswana, Lesotho, and Malawi, “AIDS impacts economic progress as it claims teachers, doctors, and other specialist human resources. In countries greatly affected by AIDS, losing key personnel reduces its capacity to achieve any level of sustainable development.” (World Vision)

“Botswana’s first AIDS case was reported in 1985, and is among the countries most devastated by the AIDS pandemic. In 2005 there were an estimated 270,000 people living with HIV. In a country with a total population well below two million, Botswana is plagued with an adult HIV prevalence rate of more than 20%. These catastrophic numbers rank Botswana second only to Swaziland in regards to these ominous worldwide statistics. (avert.org)

Various types of HIV/AIDS prevention programs have since been implemented throughout Botswana such as, “public education & awareness, specialized education for young people, condom distribution and proper usage education targeting highly mobile populations, mass improvement of blood safety, and mother-to-child transmission of HIV prevention.” (avert.org)

“Malawi’s first reported case of AIDS occurred in 1985, and more than 650,000 have succumbed to the pandemic within its borders since conception. Claiming roughly

ten lives per hour, AIDS is ravaging Malawi at a feverish pace, while claiming the title of being Malawi’s leading cause of death among adults. (World Vision)

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“Lesotho’s first AIDS case was reported in 1986. 23.2% of adults in Lesotho are HIV positive, and 23,000 Lesotho citizens died from AIDS in 2006 alone. Although these numbers are far less substantial then the statistics yielded in Botswana, and Malawi, The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Lesotho has devastated the productive age distribution of those 15 to 49 years old. Women in Lesotho lack the political, financial and social rights necessary to resist demands for sex, or negotiate for practices aimed at protecting and promoting healthy practices. It is facts such as these that have spearheaded legislation in recent years that granted married women in Lesotho the same rights as their husbands.” (avert.org)

Lesotho has consistently made effort to contain the HIV/AIDS pandemic that relentlessly feeds upon its people. “The UNAIDS Program in Lesotho currently supports the governments efforts to scale up the national response to the pandemic through policy support, strengthening of governance mechanisms and provided direct support for prevention, treatment, care and mitigation initiatives to both governmental and nongovernmental partners.” (UNAIDS) “Several HIV prevention strategies, including educational campaigns, work-based HIV prevention initiatives, targeting high-risk groups and prevention of mother to child transmission have been put into motion to not only combat the pandemic but to support a reduction in the deceleration phase of the nation and it’s ability to sustain itself in the future.” (avert.org)

Few find these overwhelming facts as anything but cold, hard, reality, although a remote few argue differently. Christian Fiala, an Austrian specialist of reproductive medicine, leads the growing group of researchers questioning the extent of the AIDS

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disaster in Africa. He maintains that while there indeed is a worrying prevalence of HIV on the continent, the numbers presented by the UN agency UNAIDS and national health authorities are highly inflated.” (Hennig) According to the World Health Organization's Africa definition, "AIDS is diagnosed on the basis of non-specific clinical symptoms and without an HIV test," Mr Fiala says. Even today, "people with for example continuous diarrhea, weight loss and itching are declared to be suffering from AIDS. But also the typical symptoms for tuberculosis - fever, weight loss and coughing - are officially considered to be AIDS, even without an HIV test," holds the Austrian specialist. (Hennig) These arguments offer an abiotic factored explanation, from a very different prospective, yet fact presented by a vast number of credible government and medical agencies worldwide far outweigh the rebellious perspective of one individual.

“Botswana, Malawi, and Lesotho have made continuous effort to prevent further loss due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. All three countries are diligently attempting to educate its citizens regarding all facets of the disease that has claimed so many lives throughout the region. Voluntary counseling and testing is consistently advocated, combining HIV testing with counseling, information, and support.” (avert.org) “In 2003, a regional strategy was launched to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV. Under

this strategy, coinciding with a regional five-year