AIDS :: Health Medicine Medical HIV Essays

acquired immune deficiency syndromeAIDS, a severe immunological disorder caused by a virus that leaves the victim unable to fight infections. The AIDS epidemic is becoming a severe health menace throughout the world, but particularly in Africa, mainly southeastern Africa. In Battling AIDS in S. Africa, an article from The Chicago Tribune, Pooven Moodleys discusses why AIDS in Africa is a world problem. He states that nearly 1,600 Africans become infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, each day. In 16 countries throughout Africa, the AIDS epidemic affects more than one-tenth of the adult population is infected, according to Peter Piot, the executive conductor of UNAIDS, in a statement made to the Security Council. With these devastating statistics, AIDS is becoming the first health and development issue to be considered a affright to global security, making it a world problem.AIDS is now at the top of the agenda of the organizations that make up the UN and the World Ban k/IMF Development Committee. AIDS in Africa is such a world problem that the U.S. government has decl ard the crisis a threat to U.S. national security (Moodley). The rest of the world will also be affected therefore, the disease will be threatening to other states in no time. This can be blamed on the domino possibleness. According to Moodley, a 1999 White House report stated, As goes Africa, so will India, Southeast Asia, and so on Researchers and health professionals have many theories and opinions as to what caused AIDS to become an out-of-control epidemic. Piot discusses how AIDS is linked to poverty because of the costs of the drugs needed to control the HIV virus. According to Jon Jeters South Africans Criticize Leaders Views on AIDS, an article from The Washington Post, he explains South Africas President Thabo Mbekis views of the HIV virus and AIDS and how his beliefs do not process the fight against AIDS. Mbeki declares that AIDS is not caused by HIV and will not provide life-saving drugs to pregnant women to reduce the risk of mother-to-child infection. President Mbeki believes that the United States and pharmaceutical companies are part of a conspiracy to falsely link HIV and AIDS to promote the sales of antiretroviral drugs (Jeter). The issue of South Africa not trying hard sufficient to stop the spread of AIDS is also exhibited in an article from Village Voice.