Sub Saharan Africa consists of the countries that lie south of the Sahara desert. This region holds less than 10% of the world’s population; however this area is home to over 60% of the people living with AIDS in the world. To put these stats into numbers its 1.9 million people living with HIV currently. Also more than 75% of the deaths caused by AIDS happened in this part of the world. According to the CIA world fact book, the top 22 countries in population infected with AIDS are located in Africa, with top 16 being located in Sub Saharan Africa. There are quite a few reasons that these countries have been a huge contributing factor. First of all heterosexual unprotected sex is the main cause, followed by needle sharing during drug use, then female sex workers that participate in unprotected sex with multiple partners, and finally homosexual sex between men. In some countries one reason is more prevalent than others, for example the sex trade in Mali is a huge business, and needle drug use is a huge problem in Kenya.
The United States has attempted help this epidemic. The USAID gives medical supplies, financial help, distributes condoms, passes out clean needles, and most importantly education for the countries in Sub Saharan Africa. Education is the key to stopping the spread of HIV, if the Sub Saharan people do not know what is causing this horrible disease they will never know how to prevent it.
Sources: http://www.unaids.org/en/CountryResponses/Regions/SubSaharanAfrica.asp
http://www.usaid.gov/locations/sub-saharan_africa/countries/rcsa/index.html
This is so sad but obviously an issue that needs to be combated. I cannot believe that such a small portion of the world possesses the majority of AIDS. The USAID website was interesting. I like prevention through education is a major part of their program. Also, I found an article from 2006 about President Bush's increases on AIDS funding. He tripled funds for AIDS to 59 million and he helped prevent and end conflicts in Liberia and other countries.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/30/AR2006123000941.html
The AIDS epidemic around the globe and the devastation it is causing in African countries is indeed disturbing. AIDS is the latest in a series of epidemic diseases like the bubonic plague and smallpox that have influenced the outcomes of history. Although a relatively recent disease, AIDS will play a large role in shaping the future of Africa and we don't know what all the effects of this epidemic will be. Will it cause a destabilization of countries and the collapse of governments due to the lose of people? Will cultural traditions be lost as parents die and there isn't anyone to teach their children? Finally, how can you combat AIDS when there is inadequate health care, education, and transportation accompanied by many social problems in African nations.
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