Prevalence of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa

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In 2009 an estimated 33.2 million human beings were unfortunate enough to be infected with AIDS or HIV. A hefty 22.4 million of those individuals live in where the story of humanity began, Sub-Saharan Africa. The good-fortuned United States on the other end of the spectrum ,is home to 1.2 million infected. The statistics for the amount of infected in the U.S. is almost negligible in comparison to those of Africa’s ,because of the obvious difference in amount of infected ,but also in the amount of power the disease has in the confines of each spatial variation. In the growing quest for equality amongst all humanity it is a necessity to understand why Africans are bearing the statistical load and why the number of infected grow in amongst them and are barely noticeable in America. The clever disease thrives on human weaknesses like stereotyping, unjustified hatred and social inequality, and apathy. The toll the disease has on a society is determined by how pervasive those human weakness are. The disease is deadly ,however, the deadliness is exacerbated by our flaws. Because there is no cure or vaccination for HIV, education and awareness or our most effective tools in the fight against HIV and for equality.

In the United States 47 percent of HIV infected are from the homosexual community and future projections predict that those numbers will grow. The growth of the disease amongst this community more so than others points out the underdeveloped social and economic traits in today’s America. The fundamental rule in slowing the spread of HIV is knowing who is infected and who isn’t. Studies show that an infected

individual while take precautionary steps to protect their partner. Many homosexual men are not even awa...

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...f HIV and that puts

huge strain on the flimsy economy. It narrows a future workforce and the work force that currently exist. Because HIV is sexually transmitted , younger people that provide most of the labor are more likely to have the disease. With collapsing economies and no future prospects, African countries will continue to live is sub-human conditions and a perpetual gap in global equality will exist.

As rich as Bill Gates is, the Bill & Malinda Gates foundation is still not enough representation from America to do this problem justice. Pharmaceutical companies need to loosen there grip on medicinal rights allow a production of affordable medicine. An interest needs to be placed on Africa’s future and welfare. Americans need to challenge the accepted idea that Africa is a hopeless continent of endless turmoil and put a stop to the spread of HIV.

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