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

HIV/AIDS Prevention

Executive Summary

Prevention is better than cure – one of the most popular quotations that significantly create meaning in human life. The early HIV prevention can help the reduction of mortality rate in the world. The prevention of the disease can originate through the proper use of information and promoting the healthy lifestyle among the adolescents. Schools, internet or interactive communications, and the public institutions can be use as the medium of the program to provide the necessary information and reminders, particularly on the adolescents and young adults.

Introduction

Prevention is better than cure – one of the most popular quotations that significantly create meaning in human life. With the effective prevention strategies, the toll on mortality rate can be maintained and the spread of diseases can be avoided. The most desirable feature of preventive actions is that the medical professionals are not pressured to search and create the appropriate medicines and other interventions. In all over the world, HIV prevention is already implemented through endorsing the preventive actions and yet there are no significant changes.

The aim of the study is to find the most effective preventive actions and this fall unto the appropriate education and information. The students, adolescents, and the young adults are the age range that can be easily affected by the said disease, and therefore, they are the population who can be beneficiary of the HIV prevention programs.

Background and Problem Statement

One of the deadliest cases is HIV/Aids that can be transferred through blood transfusion, inheritance, and the through unprotected sex. The carriers of the disease are the sex workers and the individual’s rapid change of sexual partner. The medical professional are already set their foot to provide the appropriate solution regarding this problem, however, the vaccination is not yet identified to be effective. There is a need for further investigation and secondary researches to prove the effectiveness of vaccination. Since the vaccination and the other medical treatments sounds possible, it is still important the people should create their preventive actions to combat the HIV. In this case, how does the proper information and education about the HIV be the solution in preventing the spread of disease?

Project Implementation

The efficacy of the transfer of information is already proven in any types of organization. Because of the appropriate management and monitoring of the information, there is a successful relay of knowledge particularly on those individuals who highly need the guidance. This same is true in preventing the growth of HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The prevention program will be implemented among the schools and universities, other public institutions such as hospitals, and can use the media for the rapid and widespread of information transfer. It is important that the prevention program can get into details and give the necessary information for the better understanding of people.

Through the program, the individuals can renew their knowledge regarding the importance of proper hygiene, safe sex, and other preventive methods. The program can also answer the common misconceptions of people, particularly in using the contraceptives. Actually, HIV is the virus that results to AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The virus can develop for almost 15 years and because of this silent action of the virus, an individual might fail to notice his health situation. In addition, this virus is transmittable, so if the individual changes sexual partners, there is no doubt that they sooner find out that they had been acquired the same virus.

The program are made for the all the people, but it targets the adolescents and young adult because of the increasing trend of early sexual relationships. The early parenthood, unplanned childbearing, and the openness of the young population on different sexual related activities are the signs that they are unaware or ignoring the problems on HIVs.

Sustainability

Through the program, the objectives in preventing the growth of the HIV carriers and mortality rate are expected to reduce. Because of the awareness of the young people, the risk in having HIV is minimal. Through the action of the abstinence or self-discipline for the people, the government, health department, and the entire economy can experience the significant changes. The sustainability of the project is possible through the help of the government, other institutions, and health care settings.

Budget

To appropriately manage this project, the program will be held a committee that is composed by 8 teams that will handle the 8 cities of the country. The budgets are according to the population of each city and can be obtained through the participation of the national government, local government, and donations coming from the World Health Organizations. The activities are expected to be implemented for 4 months and the costs is based on Kenya Shilling, as their currency

		Months
Cities	1	2	3	4	Costs (KSh)
Nairobi					20,000,000
Mombasa					75,000
Nakuru					35,000
Kisumu					30,000
Eldoret					25,000
Nyeri					20,000
Machakos					17,000
Meru					13,000
Total					20,215,000

Sources:

AFAO, (2001) What You Need to Know If You Are New to HIV, Positive Living, Australian Federation of AIDS Organizations [Online] Available at: http://www.afao.org.au/library_docs/positive_living/pl_nov_02.pdf [Accessed 05Aug 2010].

Lutalo, M., (2006) IFC against AIDS – Protecting People and Profitability, HIV/AIDS – Getting Results [Online] Available at: http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/aids.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/Getting_Results/$FILE/Getting+Results+PDF+Aug+8+2006.pdf [Accessed 05Aug 2010]

Miller, K., (2007) HIV/AIDS Awareness, Family and Consumer Sciences, The Ohio State University [Online] Available at: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/pdf/HIV_AIDS_Awareness.pdf [Accessed 05Aug 2010].