AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a severe disorder caused by the retrovirus HIV, resulting in a defect in cell-mediated immune response. This leads to increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and to certain rare cancers, especially kaposis sarcoma. HIV is transmitted through blood, seamen, and vaginal secretions. AIDS essentially wears down the immune system. Then, ultimately an infected person dies from common sicknesses that normally would be

AIDS spreads very rapidly, although it has spread at a far lower rate in the United States than in Africa. Several factors contribute to the spread of AIDS: ignorance, poverty, and discomfort about discussing sex. In the U.S., safe sex is encouraged and talking about AIDS and how real it is happens frequently. While in Africa, a father and son would rarely talk about how important it is to be very careful, and how anyone can get the disorder. In many African countries, it is considered improper and unnecessary to discuss sex and safe sex practices.

· 13.2 million children were orphaned due to AIDS, 12.1 million of them in sub-Saharan Africa.

The companies charge a great deal for their products after all, they want a profit, as do all companies. However, in this case, many companies are practically allowing people to suffer because of their desire for money. Some of these companies could be seen as evil and heartless. The situation puts the companies in a sticky situation. Fortunately, some companies such as Merck & Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Glaxo Wellcome PLC, have reduced their prices somewhat for their effective anti-AIDS drugs in the last two years.

The majority of Africas are not tested for HIV. To make matters worse, the rapid urbanization of the mobile work force helped to increase the percentage of infected people to up to 50% in some cities. The number of men with AIDS is significantly less than that of women. Women between the ages of 15 and 19 are 6 times more likely to get infected. This is in part due to the fact that many African societies are male dominated. Some males believe that having sex with a virgin will cure them from the deadly virus they carry. When truly, they are simply infecting 12-year-old girls with AIDS. That myth alone has caused and is continuing to cause unbelievable damage. Imagine, your first sexual experience being a death sentence.

In the U.S., taking a drug "cocktail" is a commonly used method of symptom suppression. It is basically what it sounds like, a unique, individualized combination of 15 to 20 pills tailored to the needs of a particular person. This can increase the quality of life for an AIDS patient dramatically.

Another very depressing figure is that by the year 2010, a projected 40 million children will be orphans. This will hurt the Global Economy. And this could perhaps eventually lead to an entire continent with no guidance or structure. It is almost a circle of never-ending problems.

Some pharmaceutical companies have worked hard to provide people with drugs that can help them. These drugs can often allow someone to live an additional 15 years than they would have normally lived without the drugs. Those years are lived with minimal symptoms and one can often carry out a fairly normal lifestyle.

In April of 2000, Pfizer Inc. announced that they will provide thousands of South Africans with Diflucan free of cost for those who can't afford the drug. This was a big surprise to

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