AIDS Epidemic
AIDS kills millions each year and sets back progress in developing countries. It is a problem too big to be ignored and there is still much awareness that needs to be created.
Thanks to recent advances in access to antiretroviral therapy, and the reduction of their cost, HIV is no longer a death sentence for many in wealthy countries. The bad news is that more than 5.5 million people in need of ART in low- and middle-income countries still have no access to treatment. The number of deaths of people infected per year could be decreased dramatically if the investment increased. For example, the military expenditure last year was 12,000 billions. Based on data from the WHO, we only need 25 billion to stop the number of deaths worldwide. Seems a large number by itself, but insignificant next to the military spending.
Another important aspect of this piece is that I hope to bring more interest to the youth about thinking globally. It is important to remember that small actions can add up to make big changes. The numbers of HIV infections and AIDS deaths are already out of control and still growing.
AIDS is a pandemic. In 2007 it was estimated that 32 million lived with the disease and AIDS killed an approximately 2.1 million people, including 330.000 children. Three quarters of the population in the sub-Saharan die of AIDS. This is a major cause for holding back the growth of the economy. Antiretroviral treatment reduces mortality, but the drugs are expensive and routine access is not available in all countries.
The HAART highly active antiretroviral therapy was introduced in 1996. It made a huge difference in life expectancy for people living with HIV. The survival average of AIDS patients without the antiretroviral is between 6 and 12 months. Using HAART is thought to increase survival time by between 4 and 12 years. Antiretroviral are expensive, and HAART are even more.
Although there are treatments for AIDS and HIV that slow the disease, unfortunately there is no vaccine or cure. The vaccine would be ideal to stop the pandemic, but 30 years have passed and there has been relatively no advance in this field.
The best way to prevent transmission, is still to change risky behaviors through health education, make condoms widely available and increase the number of screenings among the population. Several studies have shown the positive impact of education and health literacy in controlling the disease.
Sub-Sahara is the most affected region with South Africa having the largest population. It is followed by Nigeria and India. Life expectancy has dropped dramatically as well. An example is Botswana, where it went down from 65 to 35 years. This high number of deaths will result in a small skilled. HIV/AIDS affects the economic growth
In the United States the young African American women are at high risk because of lack of education and health care and a higher sexual activity. Just in the Appalachian and Mississippi 1.1 million people are living with HIV/AIDS and 56,000 new infections occur every single year.