AIDS IS REAL

AIDS in Africa: A Huge and Growing Problem

Figures indicate that Africa has one of the highest HIV AIDS infection rate in the world; it’s infected population amounting to more than 60% of that in world today. It is an epidemic of immense proportions still rising in a number of areas, slowing down in others who are, unfortunately, among the minority. Yet at the end of 2007, numbers indicated that sub-Saharan Africa’s aids population stood at a staggering 22 million individuals - a figure set to rise. It is evident that AIDS in Africa rampant, and in these conditions one has to wonder where the problem lies.

The Causes of HIV AIDS

It would perhaps be more prudent to state that HIV, AIDS are not one and the same. Where HIV refers to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, AIDS refers to the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome which is brought on as a result of HIV. Officially accepted medical records cite the causes of infection by the HI virus as either a result of sexual penetration by an already-infected individual without the use of an appropriate prophylactic, such as a condom. An additional method of HIV infection includes the contamination of an open wound on an uninfected individual with the blood of an infected individual.
The causes of HIV AIDS in Africa are largely due to a certain degree of misinformation among large groups of the African people. Reasons for this include politicians who deny the link between HIV and AIDS, conspiracy theories that state that the use of a condom is an attempt to control the birth rate, and therefore the population, of Africa and that condoms stifles the masculinity. In addition one has to take into account the staggering amount of corruption within African governments and the misuse of HIV AIDS aid funds, all of which has contributed to the further spreading of the disease.

Africa AIDS Treatment

The spread of AIDS in Africa can further be contributed to the lack of available treatment. One speculation points out that should people know that treatment for HIV AIDS is readily available, they will come forward for testing. It is in fact and issue that sheds light on one very important question: with all the funds and organisations often readily available to offer education as well as the treatment of AIDS in Africa, why is it still spreading so rampantly? One set of figures released by UNAIDS suggests that, in an extreme scenario, almost 90 million of people in Africa will be infected with HIV AIDS in little over a decade from now.
Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, points out that the excuse of an exhausted health infrastructure is by no means a valid one. Instead he points out that the cause of the problem is often political will, something that can perhaps be proved by the unwillingness of a number of African governments to accept that AIDS in Africa is indeed a problem. That is, until recently.

Africa AIDS – The Solution

The spread of HIV AIDS in Africa can be controlled and even reduced, just like anywhere else in the world. Yet to reach that stage it will take a determined coordination between international charities and the associated African governments to ensure the successful deployment of a program to stop the spread of AIDS in Africa. Other contributing factors toward the diminished prevalence of AIDS in Africa include accurate and correct information and education as to the causes of HIV AIDS.
In the end the fight against AIDS in Africa not only becomes a battle against the disease, but a war on government corruption and perhaps sincere efforts to solve longstanding contention between the governments of Africa and those across the water.