Aids In Africa: Epidemic, Global Pandemic, HIV And Orphans

When people think of the dark ages, they think of the uncontrollable spread of disease, namely the plague. The bubonic plague wiped out between a third and two-thirds of the population of Europe in addition to millions of people in other parts of the world. It is easy to for Americans to forget that there is a global pandemic happening right now, with the epidemic's headquarters in Africa. AIDs in Africa is a grave problem; 74 percent of the 42 million people who are HIV positive or infected by the AIDs virus live in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently in the world there are 14 million AIDs orphans and the UN estimates that in just three years that number will nearly double.

On aidsinafrica.net, there is an epidemic map feature that allows the user to scroll over countries in Africa and see the percentage of the population who are HIV positive or have AIDs. As of 2002, Botswana, a country just north of South Africa, had the highest percentage of people suffering from AIDs in Africa, at a staggering 38.8 percent. The map also has an animated feature that shows the spread of AIDs in Africa over time.

AIDs, which stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, is a virus that demolishes the immune system. AIDs is most commonly transmitted by having sex with an infected person, by drinking an infected woman's breast milk or by being born unto an infected woman, or by sharing needles with an infected person. Before a person is infected with AIDs, however, they are HIV positive, which takes a while for symptoms to show. People can be healthy for years when they are HIV positive and not know of their diseased status. Because of this, getting tested for HIV is imperative for people who are sexually active.

To combat the spread of AIDs in Africa, there are many ways to help. One way is by donating food or financial support to AIDs orphans so that they can receive education about preventing the AIDs virus. Although providing people with information about safe sex will not save people dying from AIDs in Africa, it will prevent more people from becoming infected. HIV counseling and testing are also important preventative measures in stopping the spread of AIDs in Africa. If people know that they are HIV positive, then they can take measures to protect others. Another way to help people with AIDs in Africa is by providing antiretroviral help. These drugs help by slowing the down the process of HIV. Even though these drugs help significantly, there is no cure for AIDs and people suffering from the AIDs in Africa will inevitably die.

In order to promote these helpful actions to stop AIDs in Africa, people can help by making donations or volunteering. Until There's a Cure, an organization endorsed by dozens of celebrities, works to stop the epidemic of AIDs in Africa by researching a vaccine, and by providing people with outreach and educational programs. The Campaign to End AIDs and AIDs Action are other organizations that help to stop the global pandemic.

For people who have AIDs in Africa, help cannot come soon enough. To read more about AIDs in Africa or to donate to the cause, go to Aidsinafrica.net. The global pandemic, like many of the world's gravest problems, is often overlooked. Without outside help, AIDs in Africa will multiply and spread, blanketing the world in pain and disease.


Sources:
Vital Statistics. Until There's a Cure. 2006. 25 July 2007.
http://www.until.org/statistics.shtml

Epidemic Map. Aidsinafrica.net. 2002. 25 July 2007.
http://www.aidsinafrica.net/map.php

What is AIDs? AIDs.org. 2007. 25 July 2007.
http://www.aids.org/factSheets/101-what-is-aids. html

How can HIV transmission be prevented? Avert.org. 27 June 2007. 25 July 2007.
http://www.avert.org/prevent-hiv.htm

Listing of US HIV/AIDs Organizations. The Body. 25 July 2007.
http://www.thebody.com/index/govt/orglist.html
"Black Death." Wikipedia. 25 July 2007. 25 July 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Black_De ath&oldid=147034559