HIV in Africa

AIDS is the biggest problem and challenge in Africa, than any other nations in the world. The statement especially holds true for the Sub Saharan region, with 22.2 million people living with the disease; of which, 12,000,000 are women and 1,800,000 are children; 1,500,000 deaths occur every year on an average. 11,600,000 children have been orphaned, due to HIV. Every year, Africa loses millions of lives due to AIDS. It is said, that Africa is the originator of HIV, and has been nurturing the disease for several years, without even knowing that they are completely engulfed by it.

The challenge lies in bringing the fast rate of HIV transmission under control, looking after those who are already infected with HIV and taking the responsibility of the children who have been orphaned due to HIV. The countries that are worst affected by AIDS are Swaziland, with 26% of the population infected with AIDS, and followed by Botswana (23.9%) and Lesotho (23.3%). Comparatively, the Western part of Africa is less affected by HIV, with Gabon (the most affected country) having 5% of its population, living with the disease.

Government's Stand

AIDS is more severe in Africa because of the sluggish attitude of the government. No effective actions have been taken to introduce or implement antiretroviral treatments and vaccines to the people. Thabo Mbeki, former president of South Africa and Robert Mugabe, refuses to believe that AIDS is a result of transmission of HIV infection. They believe AIDS to be a result of poverty. Until the 80s, all that the government did was to promote monogamy, loyalty to one partner and safe sex, rather, restrain from sex. The government was apprehensive about talking openly about AIDS, as that could hamper the well flourished tourism industry. President Mobutu, (1987) of Congo, implemented strict censors, on articles that were written about HIV and AIDS in his country. Moreover, a lot of taboo is associated with the usage of condoms in Africa.

People's Take

The People believe that use of condoms is a disgrace to masculinity, and it is a western strategy to paralyze the population growth of Africa. Apart from that, lack of education, poor infrastructure, corruption and traditional mindset, does not allow the successful implementation of any strategy. A large fraction of the population has no access to proper medication and health care facilities. Poverty has prompted many poor families in Africa, to involve their girl child into prostitution. Many a time, these children are too young to understand the importance of protected sex. In some pauperized nations like Kenya, natural disasters have led to a decrease in the number of clients for these sex workers. As a result, many sex workers just comply with the whims and fancies of the limited clients they get and fall prey to AIDS.

The fight against AIDS started in the 1999, when Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi, declared AIDS as a national disaster. The government was funded by WHO, to bring the problem under control. However, it was not successful. Slowly bodies like National AIDS coordinating Agency (Botswana), AFRICAID, Africa Alive, KIWAKKUKI (for women against AIDS in Kalimanjaro), came up, to take up the problems related to AIDS at a grass root level. Yet, the rate of its success is very much under question, due to the stoic attitude of the majority of the African population.