HIV and AIDS Epidemic

1.1 INTRODUCTION

There is no doubt that the HIV and AIDS epidemic has had a devastating influence on Africa, especially in my community of Qumbu. The AIDS epidemic has killed more lives than the sum total of all wars, famines and floods, and the ravages of deadly diseases as Malaria. It is destroying families in my community, overwhelming and depleting health care services. The AIDS epidemic influence in my community is significant ways should developed to reduce its effect. (Abdool Karim and Abdool Karim 2010)

1.2 HIV AND AIDS IN MY COMMUNITY

A few years ago, a lot would have not estimated the current state of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in society. As the world have entered a third decade with high HIV prevalence rates in many countries and the likelihood of an effective vaccine, or even widespread accessibility of therapeutic medication, still at its lowest, many millions more are likely to die from HIV and AIDS pandemic than have died in the past years. This fact, together with increasing stress on health infrastructures and insufficient institutional support for social services, means that poor community such as Qumbu are likely to be under enormous strain as they attempt to cope with the consequences of AIDS morbidity and mortality not to mention the burden future generations will most likely have to bear in dealing with the pandemic. Without excluding the psychological and social strain, the rise in HIV infections and AIDS deaths among adults in their prime has implications for the public financing of services for the elderly population, from health care to their pensions to welfare. The death of adults in their prime lives the following generation struggling to cope, as they are left without the required knowledge for su...

... middle of paper ...

...admitting them into institutions or hospitals. Although this has led to a rise in demand made for already scarce recourses in poor my communities. The most noticeable impact on communities is the risen burden posed by both young and old resulting from AIDS deaths. HIV and AIDS has compromised the obligation that has held parents responsible for their children and expects children to return the favour when their parents age. Those who are left behind are often not only affected by HIV and AIDS but could be left infected with the virus. In such a situation the community is expected to step in and ‘adopt’ the young and old into their care. The increasing burden of care in my community as the productive members also bread winners in the community are dying and leaving behind young and the elderly is often carried by the female members of society. (Fourie & Meyer, 2010)