HIV/AIDS Research

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HIV/AIDS Research

Every part of African society from teachers to soldiers is under

attack from Aids with over 30% of the adult population infected in

some countries, the United Nations says in a new report. 80% of the

world's deaths from AIDS occur in Africa, which at current rate is

estimated to be 34 million people to have been infected with HIV in

sub-Saharan Africa, since the start of the pandemic and 11.4 million

are estimated to have died. This epidemic is creating instability in

an already fragile African economy.

The impact of Aids goes right across the board from rural farming

communities to the armed forces and the police. The UN estimates that

economic growth across Africa has been cut by 4% and in the next 20

years the working population could drop by a quarter because of Aids

deaths.

If the consequences of AIDS is not tackled immediately then the

essential services such as health, welfare and justice will be

severely weakened.

According to the UN, Aids is now the number one overall cause of death

in Africa and is in fourth place among all causes of death worldwide.

The Aids epidemic began in Africa, but in many cases governments were

slow to respond. The problem has been exacerbated by poverty,

illiteracy, weak education and public health systems and the low

social status of women.

To tackle the rising epidemic in HIV it is essential that the

government take appropriate steps to improve the situation. This is

why it is crucial that your government takes immediate action to

reduce the epidemic.

At present I believe public health measures are the only way to stop

the spread of HIV. This means that people can be educated about the

spread of infection and encouraged to change their behaviours so as to

protect themselves and others. Educating people to practice safer sex

is probably the only control method currently available to health

authorities, nevertheless, this could be introduced in more detail so

that it can help reduce the number of people becoming infected with

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