HIV/AIDS in Africa   Term Paper ID:39383 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: This paper provides a discussion of the social and economic impact of HIV AIDS ...... More...

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Paper Abstract: This paper provides a discussion of the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa where more than 9 million have died of AIDS and 28 million more are infected with the HIV virus. Paper Introduction: HIV AIDS in Africa Introduction Sub-Saharan Africa has been hit hardest of any other region in theworld with respect to the outbreak and spread of AIDS and the virus thatcauses it HIV According to May there are million peoplecurrently infected with HIV plus another million who have died from HIV-related illnesses However to get the full impact of this statistic Cohen argues one would have to times a factor of to take account ofthose directly affected As such the economic and social Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. In Malawi, childrenare marrying earlier, leaving school to help bring in income for theirfamilies, and "take on informal labor schemes" (May 14). There are also enormous economic consequences of HIV/AIDS in Africa. http://www.colorado.edu/IBS/pubs/pac/pac2 3- 5.pdf, 1-32. The high costs of healthcare related to HIV infection and AIDS,particularly the exorbitant cost of new anti-retroviral drugs, areunaffordable by the large majority of Africans infected with HIV/AIDS.Even when the non-poor are infected, their resources are typically wipedout by treating the illness. Secretary Kofi Annan lamented the fact that initial targets toprovide patients with anti-retroviral medicines have been woefully missed,with only 3 , receiving them worldwide compared to the targeted3, , by 2 5 (May 2). World response to HIV/AIDS in African has been slow and piecemealat best. An entire generation of children hasalready been lost and another is threatened with a lifetime of destitutionand disease from the horrific consequences of HIV/AIDS in Africa.Works CitedCohen, Desmond. Yet some of thesepractices do not serve to benefit families. Body Ann May (2) reports that "Africa remains the worst-affected regionin the world" with respect to the spread of HIV/AIDS. 21 March 2 7, http://www.undp.org/hiv/publications/issues/ english/issue27e.html, 1- 5.May, Ann. One of the biggest reasons for thespread of HIV in Africa is lack of sex education and use of condoms, mainlybecause influential leaders of religious groups in Africa view the use ofcondoms as promoting promiscuity and marital infidelity. Tied in with social consequences, the changing demographic due to HIV/AIDSin Africa is such that it has created greater economic destitution in analready poverty stricken region of the world. Poor children in Africa are the most visible social and economicconsequence of HIV/AIDS in the region in Cohen's view. May (16) reports that thechanging demographic wrought by HIV/AIDS that has a major economic impacton Africa by jeopardizing its economy is as follows: 1) Alterations in theage structure of the poor (mostly elderly and children); 2) More orphanedchildren forced to forego education; 3) Survival strategies leading to theerosion of the household economic base (sale of land, assets, etc.); 4)Rising numbers of female headed households; and 6) Intensification of labormigration. 27. Until more concerted effort by world leadersand world organizations occurs, it is likely the social and economicconsequences of HIV/AIDS in Africa will continue to be devastating in theirimpact on individuals and nations. Sociallydisadvantaged groups have tended to be more prone to HIV infection andAIDS. From orphaned children and children with HIV to burdens onrelatives for caregiving and loss of productivity; there are a number ofsocial consequences of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. In Uganda, for instance,families have been adopting foster children to help replace family memberslost to AIDS, but research shows that "adding a foster child to a householdsignificantly reduces per capita consumption, income, investment in thehousehold, and possibly also access to health services" (May 14). 75349 HIV/AIDS in Africa Introduction Sub-Saharan Africa has been hit hardest of any other region in theworld with respect to the outbreak and spread of AIDS and the virus thatcauses it HIV. As May (5)reports from one article in The East African newspaper, "Tanzanianbusinessman Reginald Mengi drew the ire of Christian and Muslim leaderswhen he urged them to encourage their followers to use condoms to preventthe spread of HIV...Sheikh Yahya Huyssein...warned that the indiscriminatepromotion of condom use would undermine individual morality." The economic and social consequences of such misguided policies havebeen devastating. Disadvantage stems from poverty, lack of access to healthcare, noeducation regarding prevention of the spread of sexually transmitteddiseases (STDs) and other factors. One of the greatest impacts on Africa's economy is its loss of laborand productivity due to working age individuals infected with HIV or AIDS.According to the Economic Community of Western African States, of the 42million people living worldwide with AIDS over 26 million are workers and"by the year 2 2 heavily infected countries will have a workforce 1 to 3 percent smaller" (May 5). "Social and Economic Impacts of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Specific Reference to Aging." Institute of Behavioral Science. According to May (7), there are 28.5 million peoplecurrently infected with HIV plus another 9 million who have died from HIV-related illnesses. As Cohen (2) explains, "The poorest are theleast able to cope with the effects of HIV/AIDS so that there is increasingimmiseration for affected populations. Even the $1 billion devotedto helping resolve the crisis in Africa by the Bill and Melinda Gatesfoundation represents a tiny drop in the economic bucket of what is neededto make major progress in fighting the diseases and its impact on Africansociety. Both human and institutional capacity in nations in Africa are beingdiminished and even wiped out by the spread of HIV/AIDS in the region.Intergenerational impact will be severe both socially and economically,primarily because of perpetuating a cycle of poverty due to the diminishedhuman (social) and institutional (economic) capacity wrought by HIV/AIDS.As Cohen (4) explains it, "Intergenerational processes generate a cultureof poverty - not created by the HIV epidemic but undoubtedly strengthenedby the direct and indirect effects of the epidemic on social and economicdevelopment." Sadly, large numbers of children living in squalor will morethan likely mature and engage in the same kinds of practices and behaviorsthat lead to HIV infection and AIDS. Conclusion The sheer magnitude of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa is enough tomake the staunchest of activists, the most determined of politicians, andthe most dedicated healthcare worker blanch. However, to get the full impact of this statistic,Cohen (5) argues one would have to "times a factor of 5 to take account ofthose directly affected." As such, the economic and social impact of HIVand AIDS in Africa has threatened to overwhelm the government, healthcarecapacity, and the entire existence of the nations in sub-Saharan Africa.This analysis will discuss the numerous economic and social consequences ofHIV and AIDS in Africa, with a particular focus on the nations in sub-Saharan Africa. Even the non-poor find theirresources diminished by their experience of infection (morbidity anddeath)." Cohen (2) reports there is a growing population of impoverishedpeople living with HIV/AIDS in urban areas because of this phenomenon. The enormous costs associated with providing care for those who areinfected with HIV/AIDS is another major economic consequence of the diseasein Africa. Cohen (4) maintainsthat they are the "outcome of ongoing structural processes which are beingintensified by the HIV epidemic." In this way, these children representboth the future society and the future economic development of Africa.Cohen (4) argues that if their "educational, health, housing and otherpsycho-social needs are not addressed through policies and programs then itis difficult to see how national development objectives can possible beachieved." In this way, HIV/AIDS is threatened to wreck the social andeconomic development of Africa for decades into the foreseeable future andperhaps forever for some of the hardest hit nations. This not only has animmediate impact on Africa's economy but the loss of labor and productivitywill impact the nation for years to come. The epidemic iscurrently so overwhelming and international response has been slow andinadequate. In Africa the percentage may be even higher fromthe high numbers of people infected with HIV/AIDS. "Poverty and HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa." HIV and Development Programme, Issues Paper No. Oct 2 3. As May (14)reports, due to the particular nature of African cultures and family life,the biggest social toll taken by the disease is that "it robs the family oftheir only 'social security' system; productive members are taken out ofthe equation when they become ill and die, leaving children and the elderlyto fend for themselves." The social consequences of HIV/AIDS described above have led to somecreative strategies and solutions in African nations. A conclusion will address whether there is any hope thatthe HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa can be brought under control or resolved. More than any other region in the world, Africaneconomies and societies are crumbling under the weight of the spread of HIVand AIDS. 21 March 2 7. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.

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