Envioronment assignment - Essay Example

The effect of this disease affects the most productive sectors of the society because it deprives the economy of scarce resources of skills, it leaves countless number of orphaned children, and a country lessened with people at their prime. HIV/AIDS have declined life expectancy in Botswana as it joined the ranks of seven countries in Sub-Saharan Africa such as Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Zambia that have life expectancies below 40 years of age. Study showed of the ECA showed that by year 2020, among those aged fifteen to forty-four, there will be more men than women.

There is an implication of increased HIV infection among younger women because there is evidence in the study that older men inflict younger women thru marriage (ECA). Impact of HIV/AIDS is hardest on the family, because as people die, they leave a struggling family both emotionally and financially. Poverty is enhanced because savings are spent during the period of illness. Due to death of parents, the number of orphaned children left to government’s care also increases. The number of orphaned children in Africa is already in the range of thirteen to fifteen million children.

In summary, HIV/AIDS destroys human capital, weakens the mechanisms that generate human capital formation and produces a chance for the children to contract the disease, thus making education less attractive to them. 4. Actions undertaken by Canada, the United States and other developed countries to lessen the impact of AIDS in Africa. The control of HIV/AIDS cannot be done alone by the government of Africa. They need concerted effort of the whole population, the government and help from foreign governments and institutions.

African government can seek support from Canada, United States and other developed countries who are affluent enough to donate funds and resources for AIDS control. For instance, they could enlist assistance of the World Health Organization in the European Region that has set a program particularly intended for the region. Botswana can take advantage of several programs of WHO that has been designed to prevent transmission of AIDS, among which are: HIV testing and counseling, syringe and needle program, reduction of sexual transmission among men of same sex and thru sex workers; reduction of vertical transmission by mothers to babies, and access for treatment and care.

The World Health Organization in Europe has 53 member states that put together their efforts and resources on the control while U.S. has devoted a sizeable amount of donation for the purpose. Part 2. The Precautionary Principle. There is a saying that goes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. This I believe is the principle that is considered in the precautionary principles of scientists. Precautionary measures are taken when it is believed that a certain activity would be harmful to human health or the environment because the cause and effect relationships are not scientifically proven.

Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration firmly states: “that in order to protect the environment precautionary approach shall be applied by States according to their capabilities. When there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as reason for postponing cost- effective measures to prevent environmental degradation” (Rio Declaration). Precautionary measure is taken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in a