Australia and the World. HIV problem - Essay Example

?Australia and the World Table of Contents Introduction 3 Issue 4 Measures Taken 5 Conclusion 8 References 9 Introduction The proliferation of the communicable diseases is becoming a serious issue for many of the countries. Among many diseases, one of the major diseases is HIV that has been taking away lives of many people in the world. At the outset, it is vital to have an understanding of HIV and the reason behind it to become a serious issue in Australia. HIV is known to be the virus leading to AIDS. HIV stands for ‘Human Immunodeficiency Virus’ whereas AIDS stands for ‘Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome’. HIV tends to destroy the cells of the immune system of the body that leads to the incapability of the body to battle against infections as well as certain sorts of cancers. The people who are caught with having AIDS are found to get severe diseases that are caused because of the microbes such as viruses as well as bacteria.1 There are various means through which the virus tends to transmit to the partners’ body. A person suffering from AIDS is probable to spread the virus to other person’s body when they come in contact with each other. Issue The national survey report conducted in Australia for the ‘sexually transmitted diseases’ has found that there has been rise in the rate of the HIV infections amid the people who are above the age of 55. Further to be noted, a significant populace of Australia are testing to be HIV positive. The number as registered in October 2010 has been approximately 20,000 Australians. It was also noted that there were 1050 new infections in the year 2009. This number is quite a tiny fraction of the total number of the Australians who are being infected by the disease called Chlamydia. Most of the people who belong to the age group of 30 seem to have contracting that STD (sexually transmitted diseases) which is described by the researchers as being Chlamydia epidemic. The reason behind the senior population of the Australia suffering from HIV has been manifold. The point to note is that the people who are getting infected with the HIV kind of diseases tend to be of the generation who has already been in the world when the HIV first affected the world or became pronounced. Therefore, those people tend to have their peers who may also be infected by HIV. In this regard, it can be demonstrated that with the decline in the age of the person, the number of the people who are infected with HIV tends to decline. The main reason behind this is that the HIV infection spreads amongst those peers who come in contact with each other. It was found from the survey that since Australia has relation with other countries of the world, people from other countries suffering from HIV/ AIDS tend to bring with them HIV into Australia. These people are already infected from HIV in their country from where they are actually originated, generally unaware of the fact that they are living with HIV. They come to know regarding it only during the process of migration or at times when Australians raise health concerns. In addition to this the Australians who go overseas for the purpose of higher studies or for other matters tend to get infected with the virus. The part of the globe where the Australians are going out and are getting infected is Asia. The use of the contraceptive devices may assist in reducing the likeliness of the people getting infected by HIV.2 Measures Taken It is worthy to notice that the government of Australia is aiding $11 million so that mothers in Papua New Guinea can prevent transmitting the HIV to their babies. Mothers residing in the country’s highland can be assisted to get the drugs that would stop the transmission of the HIV to their babies in collaboration with Clinton Health Access Initiative. Further, according to the views of Mr. Kevin Rudd, the foreign Minister of Australia, the money would further assist in funding paediatric care for those 700 children who are HIV positive. It has been found that Papua New Guinea in Asia-Pacific region that lies behind Thailand has second worst HIV/AIDS pandemic.3 It is to be noted that significant amount of funds is invested by the government of Australia in wide variety of activities so that the various diseases that are blood borne viruses along with sexually transmitted infections can be prevented. From the year 2008-2011, $9.0 million per year has been invested for four of the national research centres for the purpose of providing ‘HIV and hepatitis virology research’, HIV social as well as clinical research along with the research that can focus upon the society, health and sex education. For the year 2010-2011, government of Australia has spent $5.8 million so that the work of the community that is generally based upon the HIV/AIDS organizations can be supported throughout Australia.4 It can be stated that HIV/AIDS is becoming one of the serious global threats for the mankind. Although several measures have been taken to recognise the disease as well as treat them as best as possible, it has been evident that approximately thirty million people died since the time when the first case related to HIV was reported. As per the latest report of the United Nations it is observed that by responding to the pandemic, decline in the new infections has been experienced. Further, the most significant point to note has been that in the Pacific region there is fall in the number of cases when compared to that of other regions. However, one cannot be satisfied with this number. It can be identified that it is because of the national along with the international travel that have led to the initial spread of the HIV. The rise in the HIV infections in the recent times seems to be related to the rise in the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) taking place among the heterosexually as well as the homosexually active people. The ineffective use of the contraceptive devices as well as the lack of public education regarding the risk of the HIV/AIDS and thus lack of promotion of the safer sex practices have led to the rise in such epidemic. It is to state that through various programmes as started in Australia such as World AIDS Day the country can try its best to minimize such epidemics. In the year 2010, Australia celebrated World AIDS Day in a way which is considered to be one of the most worldwide known events in a particular year. The main reason behind such events is to raise the alertness among the Australians regarding the issues that surrounds HIV/AIDS. Through such kind of programs the people of Australia can take numerous actions so that they can reduce the transmission of the HIV. This can be possible by the promotion of safer sex practices. Further, through these programs, the people get to learn to live and accept the people suffering with such epidemics. Such program tries to encourage the HIV positive people and further provide them education through which they can minimize such kind of problems.5 There must be numerous policies for the migrants so that such kind of communicable diseases can be checked. It has been noted that Fiji has strictly prohibited the discrimination of the people suffering from the HIV. The adoption of HIV/AIDS Decree 2011 by the government in the month of February’ 2011 has gained enormous praise in local as well as international arena.6 According to the media release, it has been found that Australian Government is vowing the Global Fund $210 million for 2011-2013 to fight against the HIV/AIDS. It has been stated in the release that the disease (HIV/AIDS) that is acquired overseas has been one of the main reasons of HIV diagnosis in Australia.7 It has been found from HPTN 052 that in a big group of couples when one of the associates tends to possess HIV Positive while the other does not, then the risk of the HIV transmission can be reduced to by 96% if proper HIV treatment is taken. The news may provide the HIV positive people with enhanced confidence as well as hope. Therefore, the findings further suggest that it is quite beneficial to begin the HIV treatment at times when it is appropriate for the individuals to commence the treatment. However, it has been suggested that the HIV treatment will be beneficial for those people who are living up with HIV and thus wanting to manage their personal health in the best possible way. NAPWA (National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS) has stated that it will try its best to provide its support for the research that is going on regarding the advantages of the treatment among the distinct population.8 Conclusion It can be concluded that HIV/AIDS is a serious epidemic in the recent times and thus it is the government as well as the citizens of the nations who need to take active steps to reduce the effects of such disease. Training and numerous campaigns can be of greater significance in this regard. Added to this, the campaigns and the events can be important to minimize the effects and to educate the people regarding the HIV/AIDS. There is also requirement of the numerous policies to motivate and boost the confidence among the HIV positive people as well so that they can live their lives to the fullest. References American Association for Clinical Chemistry. What is HIV. How is HIV Transmitted, 2011. http://www.labtestsonline.org.au/understanding/conditions/hiv.html (accessed June 15, 2011). Aids Action Council. Australia's $210M to Global Fund Makes Sense. Media Release - AIDS Action Council of the ACT - Wednesday 6 October 2010, 2010. http://www.aidsaction.org.au/content/media/2010/global-fund.php (accessed June 15, 2011). Colvin, M. Peer Sex Blamed For Increase In HIV Infections In Over 55s. Content, 2010. http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s3041540.htm (accessed June 15, 2011). Fox, L. PNG Gets $11m For HIV Prevention. News, 2011. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/13/3242647.htm (accessed June 15, 2011). Napwa. HIV Treatments As Prevention Findings Welcomed By People Living With HIV. Media Release, 2011. http://napwa.org.au/media/2011/05/13/hiv-treatments-as-prevention-findings-welcomed-by-people-living-with-hiv (accessed June 15, 2011). Ogier, A. Fiji Outlaws HIV Discrimination. Napwa, 2011. http://napwa.org.au/pl/2011/03/fiji-outlaws-hiv-discrimination (accessed June 15, 2011). The Hon Nicola Roxon MP. World Aids Day 2010. Joint Release, 2010. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr10-nr-nr194.htm (accessed June 15, 2011). World Aids Day. About. Internet, 2010. http://www.worldaidsday.org.au/internet/wad/Publishing.nsf/content/home (accessed June 15, 2011). Read More