Today marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS day. Every year a theme is chosen, and this year's theme is "Lead-Empower-Deliver." We need strong leadership to help stop this pandemic. We need political leaders who take a strong stance on HIV/AIDS prevention, but we also need strong leaders within our communities who are willing to act and educate others about AIDS. Of course, it means that we must go beyond talking and actually keeping our promises.
Without strong leadership and actions being taken, it is unlikely that universal access to AIDS prevention programs, treatment, and support will be met by 2010. It would be wonderful if that goal was met by 2010. The antiretroviral medication is extremely expensive, and in 2007, only 31% of underprivileged people had access to treatment. Education is also very important. People are still misinformed and still have many misconceptions. Many Africans continue to believe that having sex with a virgin will cure them of the disease (crazy....I know). Starting in 2015, UNAIDS also hopes the reverse the epidemic. This all seems wonderful, a little bit too optimistic at the same time. I don't think that out main focus is on HIV/AIDS right now; I think that, currently, our economy, terrorism, and war are given the most attention, because those are the issues that concern us the most. Sadly, we do tend to be selfish.
Here are a few statistics:
- 30-36 million people living with HIV/AIDS in 2007
- 14-17 million women living with HIV/AIDS
- 2 million children living with HIV/AIDS
- 20 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa living with HIV/AIDS
- Approx. 11 million AIDS orphans living in Africa
- Approx. 25 million AIDS deaths since 1981
- 50% of new infections are amongst people under 25
12 comments:
Sad but for places like Africa, the only real solution is to bring them out of poverty. AFter all, considering how many orphans there are in Africa is a good indication that their are other more severe problems that need to be treated first. I agree with you that reversing the epidemic by 2015 is optimistic and to get all the manpower and money would require a huge by everyone that i don't think is going to happen
I'd like for our government to do as much as possible to fight AIDS, but sadly there's only so much that the government can do. Although I do think that our government is capable of doing more (every little bit helps, just a few more teachers and just a few more campaigns would reach new people and prove worthy), I think the government is right to focus more on the economy and terrorism/war that could affect people at home. After all, the United States isn't supposed to be a miracle worker for everybody in the whole world; other developed countries should help too.
The way things are now, I think it'd be better if we could focus on the economy and keeping America secure, and ask other countries that are better off at the moment to do what more they can for the AIDS effort in Africa. Once things are more stable in here, we can then invest more time and money with AIDS. I believe that it's a disease that can be beat (for the most part), but we can do our part when we aren't so crippled.
Of course it'd be best if more countries in Africa could become independent and deal with the issues in the way that only a nation can do for itself. It would require money and an effective government, two things that took decades for even the United States to establish strongly, and we weren't nearly as bad off as Africa. It would take a lot of time, but like Jesse said, bringing Africa out of poverty is the most effective way to end AIDS as well as other problems there as well.
It's sad that other things are getting so much action when people are dying. I understand how bad the economy is and why it gets so much action, but I feel sorry for the people with AIDs. I think it is important to educate people about AIDs. I believe it is one of the best ways to fight it.
I don't expect that the government has time right now to focus on AIDS, allthough I wish that they would put it on the legislative agenda. However, as educated citizens, I feel it is our civic duty to take matter into our own hands. I encourage everyone to participate in AIDS walk San Fransisco this summer. It's a really fun way to spend a saturday morning, and all donations help to find a cure and stop the spread of AIDS through medication and education. So if this is an issue that touches you there are ways we can help, even if the government is preoccupied with the economy and foreign affairs, which is under standable.
Some American AIDS statistics:
African Americans are one of the largest minority groups at risk for HIV/AIDS. Of the 43,171 cases diagnosed in 2003 in the United States, African Americans accounted for 49 percent of these diagnosed cases.
The area of the Caribbean has reported 500,000 people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Hispanic community has the second highest rate of diagnoses among minorities. In 2002, Hispanics accounted for 20 percent of the 42,000 new diagnosed cases of HIV/AIDS and 13 percent of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Additionally, Hispanics also compose 20 percent of the population of people in the United States living with HIV/AIDS.
I agree with Amy…it is time to take matters into our own hands.
I definately agree that 2015 seems like an unrealistic goal. Research to fight HIV has been going on for the last 30 years, and where are we now? We still have 2 million people dying each year and many more who are resistant to the treatment in general. I think we need to stop idealizing and we need to start being practical. The only way that we can tame this disease is if we offer treatment that is affordable to ALL people. I personally think that this is only possible with a vaccine. A vaccine would not only eliminate the pill cocktails that HIV patients have to take, but it would also be so much more affordable. Vaccines barely cost anything in comparison to the current treatments. However, the problem with vaccines is that they are really hard to discover. Companies are not willing to develop them because the countries who most need them are poor. The companies have no economic incentives.
I think we need to stop being so selfish, as Laura pointed out, and we need to take the initiative in creating this vaccine. No other country has the might or resources like we do, so we have to step up to the bat. I disagree with Kevin on the fact that we should "ask other countries that are better off to do what more they can for the AIDS effort." No country in the world is "better off" at the moment, so leaving the task to others seems irresponsible. We can't just worry about ourselves and our domestic problems; AIDS is not going to go away unless WE get involved.
Aimee, the AIDS walk in SF sounds fun. Have you ever done it before?
AIDS is of course a serious and threatening epidemic that impacts many third world countries as well as our own. Of course this means that the U.S. is obligated to help prevent further spread of the HIV virus by funding projects to establish hospitals and clinics so that people can be tested for the virus. Yes the U.S. should assist these countries by providing funds, but as our country's economy takes a turn for the worse, our ability to aid countries in need becomes more limited. I think our government's main priority should be to balance the repair of our own country with our obligation to continue to support other countries around the world.
this is increadibly sad however i am confident that in the future, AIDS will be seen as a problem of the past. we live in exponential times, and the world is changing faster now than ever predicted. the top ten jobs of 2008 did not exist in 2004. i guess what i am trying to say with this is that we might have the technology to stamp out Aids faster than we think. this prosses could also be much cheeper. in 1980 scientist uncoded a single human genome for hundreds of thousends of dollers, and it took years, and now we are able to uncode the entire human genome in a few months for a few thousend dollers, this leads me to the point that although ending poverty in Africa would be amazing, it doesnt seem like poverty will ever end in Africa, and putting an end to poverty in africa will not be nessesary to end AIDS in the future. Also aids will be much simpler to cure than cancer because of the fact that the irregularity in the body is not constantly changing, theirfore creating an all perpose fit anti codon will also not be nessesary. I believe that Aids will infact be stamped out faster than cancer, and although i am usually a very pessimistic person, or mabe not pessimistic but realistic. i am firmly optomistic on the subject of AIDS. Also it is great that are doing so much for this cause, and the fact that we started it twenty years ago. if anyone is curious about the speed at which our world is changing you should visit this sight here is the url http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpEnFwiqdx8
I had to sit through one of Mr. Larios's lectures about this yesterday in Health.. I actually learned a lot. HIV can be treated before it turns into AIDS, however it is costly. Magic Johnson tested positive for HIV in 1991, and today he does not even feel the symptoms. However, last year, a girl from South San Francisco tested positive and died one month later. How can this be? Obviously, Magic Johnson has the resources to cover his treatments. Fortunately, HIV can be kept under control, but only for those who can afford it. This is why most of those who die from AIDS in the US are minorities. The government can help this issue by providing funding for education and research. The good news is that HIV/AIDS research is already underway by many Federal agencies and their partners in laboratories and agencies throughout the nation. However, I don't see this as a huge priority because HIV can be prevented. All it takes is practicing safe sex and abstaining from sharing needles. Even pregnant women with AIDS can take a drug that will stop the disease from passing on to the baby. There are more pressing issues on the agenda-- the economy, for example.
Yes, AIDS is a big problem at the moment. I agree with others. We need to have priorities. AIDS effects only a smaller population in the country. The economy effects more. The only way to pump real money into research and resources is if we have the money to do it. Africa's problem is thiers for now. They need to strengthen thier own countries first. If they do not, there is no point in helping those people since they will go on not learning about protection and prevention.
Those numbers that you put up are pretty depressing. I mean, it's been decades since we first learned about AIDS but we still haven't discovered a cure for it. Sadly, we are still years away from discovering one.
Fortunately, there are people out there who give inspiration and strength to people with AIDS like my Idol, Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers. This man was diagnosed with HIV in 1991 but he is still in good shape. He inspires many people around the world and he participates in many AIDS/HIV programs. He was interviewed recently by NBA.com about World AIDS Day, here's the link: http://www.nba.com/2008/news/12/01/magicworldaidsday/index.html?rss=true
Well, personally, i think we should pay more attention to these issues. I have read many articles of the United Nations report on AIDS over summer. Women are being raped and rejected by their own families in the middle of nowhere in Africa. The amles are the ones that transport most of the time. I think that one person can make a difference, but sadly we don't have any power. I don't expect the American government to take any action in this matter.
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