Aids in Africa

Introduction

Aids have been ranked as one of the major cause of deaths in every part of the world. There are many programs and promotion in fighting the sexually transmitted disease, but the prevalence of the disease is overwhelmingly growing. In Africa, wherein the total population is estimated to be 43,997,828, the people with HIV/AIDS are recorded to be about 5.5 million (12.5% of total population). And of the 5.5 million infected, 5.3 million are adults starting in the ages of 15+. In a more recent study, the AIDS and its popularity reached in different society and created various issues regarding the awareness and the prevention strategies. However, the continuous fight against the HIV/AIDS doesn’t seem to end like in poor countries like Africa.

HIV/AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks certain disease-fighting cells within the body until the afflicted individual becomes immune deficient. Immunodeficiency is the most severe state of infection and is known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Upon contracting AIDS, the victim becomes susceptible to potentially fatal diseases that his/her body could otherwise defend against. The HIV/AIDS epidemic exists on a global scale and does not discriminate between gender, race, or age classifications. While all countries are faced with the challenge of coping with HIV/AIDS, the nature and extent of the virus’s effects vary from country to country.

South Africa

South Africa provides an example of a country with a very high number of HIV infected individuals The HIV/AIDS epidemic disproportionately affects women. An estimated 3.1 million women are infected versus 2.2 million men. According to the reports drawn, the number of children infected is estimated at around 240,000 and South Africa has approximately 1.2 million orphans from HIV/AIDS. One of the main ways the disease is currently spreading is through sexual contact. A large majority of the public remains uneducated about HIV/AIDS and the ways it can be contracted. Sadly, there are people unaware and living with HIV/AIDS while others believe that there is no danger of becoming infected and are therefore unaware that they can transmit the virus to others. The continuous practice of unprotected sex and the rapid change of partners spread the virus really fast. In addition, the transmission of the disease from mother to child is also a common method of contraction and as a result, many South African children are infected.

The Combat of AIDS

The South African government has been implementing the National Strategic Plan 2007-2011. This plan includes increasing the antiretroviral treatment program that is already in place. While the provision of antiretroviral therapy has expanded dramatically in recent years, due to the high numbers of those infected, only a small proportion of those in need of this therapy are actually receiving it. Several mass media campaigns are also being used as educational tools for the public. These campaigns utilize radio and television ads as well as billboards to communicate health risks associated with HIV/AIDS. One such campaign is called loveLife, which has a website for both youth and adults where information about current research, treatments, and prevention is accessible. The government has also used the distribution of free male condoms as a prevention strategy. From 2004-2005, for example, 360 million male condoms were distributed to the South African population. One future goal of prevention in South Africa is to increase the number of pregnant women who receive antiretroviral prophylaxis, which is used to prevent mother to child transmissions.

The Future Research

With the continuous and extensive research in HIV/AIDS, it is important to explore the personal experience of the victims. Although there are many interventions, like the vaccines available in the developing countries, prevention still emerges in the issue of AIDS. The people who suffer are through the representation of the children. They are the victims who will experience the stigma and other types of discrimination because of the disease. They might fail to enjoy the essence of life because of the AIDS that had been passed into their innocent veins.

Conclusion

The global disease of AIDS should be fought from the roots of AIDS. One factor that can increase the prevalence of the disease is based on the denials. The action for the AIDS prevention can be based on the growing population of affected people and it is not too late. Through the use of appropriate use education regarding the HIV/AIDS, the prevention and the ways to transmit the diseases should be discussed in the age of puberty.

Sources:

Carton, B., (2009) When Bodies Remember: Experiences and Politics of AIDS in South Africa, Journal of Social History, 42(4):1065+

HIV/AIDS A Comparative Analysis of a Global Epidemic [Online] Available at: http://www.uwec.edu/jolhm/EH4/HIV/HIVWebsite/04CASESTUD.html [Accessed 28 September 2010].

Pozez, G., (2009) 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa, Journal of International Affairs, 62(2): 241