AIDS in Africa
Seventy-four percent of the AIDS population is found in Africa. One in ten adults living in Africa is now infected with HIV, and in certain places in southern Africa, at least one in four adults are infected. Not only does AIDS affect the immediate victims, but in Africa, it frequently is passed on to the children. An estimated 1,700 new infections occur each day. The infection rates among newborns are high. Furthermore, AIDS orphans many children. Rape victims have a high risk of testing positive for HIV, which is especially sad for a country where such a crime is widespread. Even in mutual relationships, the females often would like to use a sort of protection; well males do not wish to do so. When a female condom was available in a few parts of Africa, they disappeared in frenzy. Many problems contribute to poor conditions, and subsequently, AIDS is a problem for every one of Africa's citizens. (MSNBC) For a while, part of the problem was lack of education, but programs such as the International Aids Vaccine Initiative (a charity dedicated to raising money for AIDS vaccine research, patenting the rights and distributing the vaccine at low cost) are currently working on improving that. IAVI is dedicated to trying to
The medical impact on Africa is not the only concern. Politics, unfortunately, does play a large, persuasive part in the fight against AIDS. For instance, for a long time, some refused to believe any of the facts about the AIDS disease. South African president Thabo Mbeki has questioned the fact that HIV causes AIDS. This makes the public even more doubtful of the horror of AIDS. One man interviewed for a July 10th NBC newscast told the reporter that he believes AIDS is caused by avocadoes. The economic perspective is also doubtful. USAID, the American government's agency for international development, estimated that in ten years the life expectancy of somebody born in Botswana will have fallen to 29. This means within 20 years, the elderly will outnumber the middle-aged. A healthy economic future, already difficult in Africa's market, would be even less possible. There is simply no solution as to how the older or much younger populations could be supported when AIDS is killing huge numbers of people in the most productive time of their lives. Socially, AIDS hinders in many ways. Children are often innocent victims, whether they are born with the virus, or are orphaned by the disease. Relationships are seriously hindered by worries and doubts of contact with the disease and struggles over condom usage. Africa's culture is being affect negatively also. The population seems doomed to life with disease, and poverty. The future looks bleak. Currently, the world spends only about US$300-350 million on AIDS vaccine research and development. IAVI proposes a new vaccine development program in which vaccines are developed mostly for use in those parts of the world that need them the most, and the availability of the drugs are assured in both Sout
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1200
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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