The HIV-AIDS Epidemic in Africa - 631 Words

HIV/AIDS is a significant public health concern and a leading cause of death in many parts of Africa. Although Africa is home to about approximately 15 percent of the worlds population, the same region is the worlds epicenter of HIV/AIDS. The numbers are overwhelming as adult HIV occurrence is 1.2 percent around the world but it is approximately 9.0 percent in sub-Saharan Africa. UNAIDS (The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS) estimated that at the end of the year 2001, there were 39.8 million people living with HIV/AIDS, 28.5 million of them from sub-Saharan African alone. Another 4.9 million adults and children were newly infected with HIV/AIDS in the year 2001, 3.5 million of them from sub-Saharan Africa. An estimated 3 million people died from AIDS-related causes in 2001 and of these deaths, 2.2 million were among sub-Saharan Africans. Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounts for an assessed 71.3 percent of all individuals living with HIV/AIDS and approximately 70 percent of all t otal AIDS deaths in the year 2011 alone (AVERT). HIV is a relevant topic because unmanageable financial and coordination burdens have been forced upon the health systems (Beaubien). Some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have seen success in curbing the rate of AIDS previously. Uganda had a 26% rate of HIV/AIDS infection in 1986, and in 1987, Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni introduced a five-year government-led plan to reduce the rate (AVERT). The plan was defined by an approach toShow MoreRelatedShould The Hiv / Aids Epidemic?918 Words   |  4 PagesShould the HIV/AIDs epidemic in Africa be described as a feminist issue? With higher transmission rates concentrated among African women, and the vast majority of new mother-child transmissions occurring within African countries, HIV seemingly fits into the scope of feminist concerns. 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Although the government denied the existence of HIV/ AIDS for many years, they have begun working towards various solutions such as the ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful, and Condom use) method and United States initiatives like PEPFARRead MoreHealth Issues in Africa1611 Words   |  7 Pagespeople i sn’t as healthy as might be imagined. South Africa major health public concerns are HIV/AIDS, malaria, smoking related disease, and tuberculosis, just to name a few of them but all of which affect the non-white population more than the white; apart form these. HIV/AIDS in Africa The rise of sickness in Africa today is mainly caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). AIDS is the number one killer in African society today