Africa and Aids

Africa and Aids

Africa by far, is struggling the worst with its on going battle with AIDS. In comparison with the rest of the world they have the largest number of infected people. Throughout the years more and more people are catching this virus and nothing seems to be getting done to prevent it. In the US as we battle with HIV and the AIDS virus there are discussion groups and early childhood classes on safe sex and how AIDS can be contracted. When the time comes that young adults are beginning to become sexually active they know the precautions they should be taking. Unlike the US Africa holds back on their teachings about sex in schools, for reasons of culture and religion they do not believe in. In 2000 the statistics on the number affected with the virus in Africa was around 23.5 in the US the numbers were slightly under one million. This raises the question what causes Africa’s population to be overtaken? I found it interesting in the article that employment rates were not close to where they should be. “In South Africa, a 1996 study estimated that 52% of the 11 million people aged 16-30 were unemployed, and half of those unemployed people were classified as marginalized, with few prospects of formal sector employment.” E

The fact that there is little money around and so many are without jobs leads them to think of the present instead of the future. I never realized how bad it was there, and thinking back to how I felt growing up knowing about the virus, I couldn"tmt imagine living in Africa when it is a part of everyday life. It seems like most families are either all infected or no one is. When they are away they spend their money on sex and alcohol. When both parents have AIDS what chance do their children really have? Even if they are not infected they grow up in a house of poverty and sickness. I don"tmt understand how these people are willing to put themselves at risk when they know so many people are infected and still they choose not to protect themselves with at least a condom. It is also said that women were having sex with men older than them. The US and Europe agreed that they would not sell the drugs at a cheaper rate to the countries in dying need, but instead the prices are drastically higher for them. I know that there are many women in Africa that are forced to have sex and this is not their fault. The other problem with the lack of money in the country is that most people are not helping to find a cure or are spending any money to help the sick. This caused people to walk around unsure if they are infected or not and then sleep with new partners and spread the virus unknowingly. Some men will spend a year away working in mines. This has been a problem in their country for so many years and I feel that if you lived with this everyday you should be in fear. Every child should know by at least the age of 10 about what to avoid and how the virus is spread. This differs from other countries that spread AIDS mainly by sharing drugs and needles, and homosexuality.