Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in Africa - Report Example

number HIV and AIDS in Africa HIV/AIDS has been a vital public health concern and cause of many deaths in Africa. Since the first description of HIV/AIDS 30years ago, the disease has infected tens of millions of people around the world. This has led to manifold impact on science, healthcare and international development programs in Africa. The epidemic has revolutionized pharmaceutical drug discovery as a once fatal disease now tends to be a chronic illness that needs long-term treatments. With the coming up of effective medications, the future challenge is facilitating access to medical care and treatment to all affected by HIV/AIDS. This paper discusses HIV/AIDS in Africa aligning the argument with its position today, and the future changes expected. Africa continent is home to about 15.2% of the worlds communities. As for the 34 million people HIV-positive people worldwide, 70% live in the sub-Saharan Africa. Statistics have proven this as it is apparent that there are 23.8 million infected people in Africa. It is a menace to the next generations to come as 91% of the worlds HIV- positive children live in Africa. Nations around the Horn of Africa and the Northern Africa have significantly lower prevalence rates because their communities engage in fewer high-risk cultural patterns that have led to the virus spread in the continent (Muller, 75-76). The history of the HIV infection in Africa is derived from Western equatorial Africa where groups of chimpanzees lived. The virus was contacted from the chimpanzees to human beings when the hunters came into contact with their flesh blood after having a kill. After the humans were infected through consumption, the disease was passed to other human beings through bodily fluid contamination. This theory of origin of AIDS is called Bushmeat theory (Essex, 219). The transmission of HIV from the rural areas to the urban was made possible due to the urbanization that occurred in the 20th century. Researchers say that HIV was spread through river travels. This was evident in the Congo River where the trade along the river attracted many people. The result of this was the first HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa in 1970s in Kinshasa, Congo. It was characterized by opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, cryptococcal meningitis and pneumonia (Essex, 225). In Africa, AIDS evolved among the general populations in contrast with the perception that it was a disease for the drug addicts and the gay men. This enhanced the fight against HIV and emphasis on preventing transmission from mother to child, and the relationship between HIV and poverty. However, the people ignored prevention of HIV transmission by engaging in unsafe sexual practices. The prevalence of the disease attracted more funding, but it did not prevent the drastic rise in HIV cases. In Africa, the southern region is the most affected by the prevalence of the disease in conjunction to 2011 statistic reports. The report states that at least 10 percent of the population is infected in Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa (Muller, 33-35). The high spread of HIV/AIDS within the Sub-Saharan Africa was due to unsecured behavioral patterns. There were so many communities in the area where multiple sexual partners and pre-marital affairs were evident. According to Essex (235-238), HIV transmission is prevalent in the first few weeks in an infected individual. Thus, when the victims have more sexual partner at that time, the virus spreads quickly. Also, the concurrent relationships were common in Africa leading to high transmission of HIV both in men and women. Poor economic factor is also another cause of the wide spread of the HIV virus. This is because the economic problems led to prostitution among many women and girls to meet their daily needs (Essex, 236). The health industry in the most of African countries is not efficient. There is the need of equipped medical facilities where Anti retroviral drugs are readily available. Also, the industry faces a shortage of professionals due to lack of training by the governments and brain drain to foreign developed countries. Male circumcision and female genital mutilation have also increased the HIV infection in countries like Lesotho, Kenya and Tanzania. That is why the high levels of medical suspicion in Africa have led to an increase in the menace. It is also essential to note that the spread of the HIV in Africa was promoted by African political leaders. The leaders denied the relation between HIV and AIDS and considered it as a curse in the society. Such a case was evident in South Africa when Thabo Mbeki was the president and denied the relationship between HIV and AIDS with the South African society. The high number of deaths due to the impact of HIV transmission in the Africa has been a major case study of the brutality of the disease. The disease has also reduced the GDP of many nations in Africa since infected people do not access medication. Thus, spend most of their bed ridden and become unproductive for the economy. Other countries in Africa have also been forced to spend a lot in the health sector. Thus, leading to low development projects that can be a source of income for the citizens in the long-run. Therefore, HIV and AIDS in Africa is relevant in the global affairs since it determines how the continent will grow and compete with other continents in creating resources and platforms for development opportunities (Essex, 676). Prevention of HIV infections has been embraced through various public education initiatives to create awareness. The initiatives have emphasized on abstinence, being faithful and the use of condoms. Some countries like Botswana and Kenya have introduced HIV/AIDS education in their schools. This has reduced the ignorance of the menace in the society and enhanced prevention of the menace in the future. The African Union members also established AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) in 2001 to enable governments to implement their commitment to mobilize the required resources for the fight against HIV/AIDS. It is apparent that in the future, the spread of the HIV will be minimal. This is because people are now embracing the use of condoms. Also, the antiretroviral drugs are available in public hospitals free of charge to reduce HIV-related deaths. Thus, allowing people to live a healthy life (Essex, 676). In conclusion, it is true that HIV/AIDS is a menace in Africa. This is because of the cultural practices and beliefs that have led to high rates of spreading of the virus. It is evident that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has slowed the economic growth and social development in Africa due to the large number of people that are not able to work. The future seems to be bright since various countries have adopted policies to reduce the menace through the use of antiretroviral drugs, AIDS prevention education and the use of condoms. Work cited Essex, Myron & Essex, Max. AIDS in Africa. United States of America: Springer publishers. 2002. Print. Muller, R. Tanja. HIV/AIDS and Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Impact Mitigation Through Agricultural Interventions: an Overview and Annotated Bibliography. Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Pub, 2005. Print. Read More