Accessing Healthcare Person Living with HIV and AIDS - Essay Example

Number] Accessing Health Care Persons living with HIV/AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome /HIVare a life taking disease and it is found all over the globe but there are many countries who are the greatest victim of all. As far as Africa is concerned then south part of Africa is highly affected by this disease and in few parts it has been spread like a plague. Botswana is a country of southern Africa and it has a top position when it comes to AIDS and HIV. The situation of this country is just because of AIDS/HIV otherwise it has seen heights of prosperity earlier (Haacker 15). Intended Population Population of Botswana is around 2million and in this adults constitute the highest ratio. According to Averta, there are more than 300,000 adults who are suffering from AIDS and this figure is increasing day by day. Adults between the ages of 15-49 have a ratio of around 25% when it comes to HIV and it is a second highest ratio in this world. These are the diseases which have a devastating result on the economic side of the country. In early 90’s, an average life of Botswana was 65 but due to these disease it has taken a nose dive to 40 years. Children under the age 5 are also a victim of this disease because of transmission from mother to child. Intended population for these diseases is none other than adults because they are the one who can change the fate of countries. Families are being hit hard by poverty because adults in the age of productivity get victimised by such diseases which only make them a burden nothing else. Botswana is a country which has a huge name in mining and agriculture but due to loss of people extensively in the age of 15 to 49, these industries are giving worst results (Haacker 67). Location Rural and Urban both are being affected by HIV/AIDS however, Urban people specifically women are more addicted to this. For the sake of enjoyment, they are ruining their lives. Religious groups are also taking steps for such unethical and immoral activities. Programme and their structure Botswana government is taking every single possible step to overcome these epidemic diseases and AIDS/HIV control programmes have a place in national policy. National Aids coordinating agency is owned by government of Botswana which is solely devoted to AIDS/HIV control programme and there are many other programmes for example condom distribution policy, adult sex awareness etc which are working to create awareness and sense of responsibility among people. UNDP, UNICEF, USAID and other charity organizations are working on non-profit bases for the prosperity and health of Botswana people. In 1985, when AIDS/HIV were first identified, ministry of health took testing of blood step then in early 90’s awareness campaign was started but due to negligence of people and other certain barriers, this was out controlled and now it is a part of national policy (Haacker 76). (Haacker, 82) budget of Botswana is under pressure because of such epidemic diseases and every single organization is contributing somehow to this cause without thinking of any profit. Such diseases have also contributed to a loss of skilled workers and manpower is not fully stable. Recent study of UNDP shows that girls are more vulnerable to AIDS and now government has also started distributing women condom for free. Last year, NACA has distributed 20million condoms and other charity organizations around 10million. Even pregnant women in the age of 15 to 49 have a ration of 34%. Government of Botswana also called emergency in 1999 because of such epidemic disease and strategic framework was also designed to cater this. Steps were taken on national and international level; funding is still coming from all over the world. Bill Gates and her daughter have promised to give more than 100million dollars for this cause. Barriers and Strategies Ministry of health, NACA and other organizations have formulated steps to overcome HIV/AIDS but things are not as simple as they are written. Monitoring and evaluation, Poverty, lack of education, bureaucracy, domestic violence and last but not least budget management are the barriers. Lack of skilled labour, professionals and budget management are the organisational barriers towards the road to healthy Botswana. Poverty in Botswana is very high because 93000 children are those who have lost at least single parent just because of AIDS. Due to poverty education is not accessible and while knowing about such diseases they still indulge in to such activities which are making their society paralyse. Due to ADIS/HIV youth is being hurt the most and those seats in the organizations are vacant and skilled persons are not available. Government has spent more than $340 million for this cause but things are still not stable. NACA is only focused towards the designing and funding instead they should focus on monitoring and evaluation. Ministry of health should set up an alliance with other organizations that are devoted to this cause and create a proper budget where each and every single activity is transparent. Decentralization of powers, empowering people will lead to a health Botswana. Strategic planning framework which Government has made should focus on partnerships. Partnerships among national and international organizations for example USAID, UNDP and UNICEF should be formed. These partnerships should have a specified budget, having those people, who are not corrupt, start making the communities involved with people who are having AIDS/HIV. Government can ask on an international platform for the financial help or can take loan if possible but already 66% spending of budget is allocated towards ADIS/HIV programme (Haacker 112). So, by making partnerships every organization role and responsibility will be aligned under one roof i.e. Government of Botswana and nobody else can be more serious than Botswana. Strategic priority is a need of an hour; international organizations should be aligned with national interest. When we talk about transparency then equality and cost-effectiveness are also very important. As stated above that partnerships should work on involvement that actually means that awareness is needed. This is a preconceived notion that AIDS/HIV can be happen by eating with the patient and it is totally wrong, this is discrimination among people. So, there is a need of strategy to overcome this by treating everyone equal. Television, radio and internet marketing are the best tool for creating awareness among masses. Internet marketing is already being used in Botswana but guerrilla marketing will be more effective. Law should be formed for sex between men and men as it is not a normal thing like America and violation of law should result in a punishment. By making strict policies, aligning national interest with international organization for the safety reason, AIDS/HIV can be abolished. Work Cited Haacker, Markus, Ed. The macroeconomics of HIV/AIDS. International Monetary Fund, 2004 Read More