History and Future of HIV in Latin America - Research Paper Example

CURRENT SITUATION OF AIDS IN LATIN AMERICA Word Count (1274) History and Future of HIV/AIDS in the Region According to the health statistics, approximately 1.5 million people living in Latin America were affected by the HIV/Aids pandemic. However, based on the 2011 statistics, 83,000 new cases of the disease were reported, which was a decline relative to the previous years. In the late 90s, the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy was availed in Latin American countries as a treatment procedure for HIV/AIDS. In 2008, nearly half of the people suffering from the disease got some medical attention. In the past, Brazil has been on the forefront in employing treatment strategies for HIV/AIDS. Consequently, a gradual drop in the cases of the disease has been witnessed in recent years. Contrarily, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS remains high in countries, such as Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, and Costa Rica.1 The future of treatment strategies for HIV/AIDS in this region seems promising. The Latin America region represents one of the areas where treatment strategies for HIV/AIDS are at 75%. However, with the increasing access to better medication, the rate is expected to rise to 80% in the future. The Latin American countries are trying their best to implement the WHO’s 2013 Treatment Guidelines due to lack of enough funds and poor treatment planning. Beneficial programs, such as provision of condoms, public education, and other sensitization measures are being incorporated into the region for purposes of reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence in the region. 2 Impact of HIV/AIDS in Latin America The impact of HIV/AIDS can be viewed from both an economic and political viewpoint. A high prevalence rate of the disease normally leads to a slow economic growth since it reduces the amount of human labor and governments invest heavily to control the pandemic. For instance, a large number of people living in the Latin America region are contracting the disease on an annual basis. People suffering from the disease are not only capable of working, but also require extensive medical attention. Consequently, this leaves a small pool of skilled workers to execute vital duties. It is noteworthy that the disease mostly affects women; hence, the sectors, which are gender specific, suffer the most.3 HIV/AIDS has a negative impact on the stability and security of a nation. It normally starts on a small scale, but it usually escalates beyond unmanageable proportions. For instance, the disease hurts social institutions, such as family setups, education, and healthcare systems. Normally, the IMF, World Bank, and WHO considered the HIV/AIDS burden when analyzing a state’s stability. An indirect consequence of the disease is unprecedented migration into foreign countries, causing further political instability. Analysts believe that the dangers posed by HIV/AIDS on insecurity are often underestimated. Strategies Employed In Dealing with the Disease Prevention and treatment are the leading strategies used in addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The prevention strategies employed in Latin America countries have been successful in recent years. First, sex education is a paramount prevention strategy. This type of education mostly targets young people, whereby they are taught about modes of transmission and prevention measures. Second, condom promotion mainly targets the high-risk groups such as sex workers who are very likely to transmit the disease. However, additional campaigns are required to increase the use of condoms as a preventive measure. Third, community mobilization is also necessary whereby members of a community are sensitized about the issue. Further, medical practitioners are focused on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission as a means of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. Consequently, expectant mothers, who are HIV/AIDS, are usually given anti-retroviral medication to prevent the child from contracting the disease.4 An improvement of treatment measure for HIV/AIDS has been witnessed and reported in the Latin America region. Access to treatment methods is a form of treatment, which is aimed at community level. Community groups are crucial in providing treatment to the affected individuals since they can provide intensive care. However, there is a need for improvement in the delivery of the treatment to enhance its availability. The Role of Public Forces in dealing with HIV/AIDS The tackling of HIV/AIDS requires an intervention from the national to the local government. Given that the disease often affects people living in poor and impoverished conditions, it is important that local governments incorporate systems that help alleviate the condition. It is important for donors to step in and offer funds to be used in highly impoverished regions. For instance, it would be advisable to pump additional funds to communal regions of Latin America where it can be used to remedy the situation. Additionally, improving education and training in the management of the epidemic can help in creating awareness. The spread of HIV/AIDS is mainly caused by ignorance and lack of proper education; thus, leading to the spread of the disease. This represents an appropriate measure to be used in Latin America since health practitioners can be trained on how to handle the epidemic. Further, public campaigns are essential whereby community-based organizations and NGOs can organize drives to sensitize people on the dangers of the disease. It is also important to avail treatment services at a community level to enable equal access.5 Summary Statistics indicated that by the end of 2012 about 1.5 million in Latin America were infected with the HIV/AIDS. The statistic represents 0.4% of the population living with the disease. Different countries in Latin America have varying degrees of the epidemic. However, common characteristics are found in each of the Latin America countries, which contribute to the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Some of these include elevated poverty levels, homophobic tendencies, migration into the region, and discrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS. These negative aspects are some of the challenges of fighting the HIV epidemic in these countries. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Latin America is a serious problem that requires proper attention from governments in this region and external donors, such as the World Bank and IMF. The main problem is that the number of people affected by this epidemic has remained stable over the years. The countries most affected by this epidemic include Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Argentina. Given that these countries are highly populated, the number of people affected by the disease seems insignificant since the prevalence lies at 0.5%. However, the most affected country in this region is Belize, which has a prevalence rate of 1.4%. People that are most affected by this epidemic are homosexuals, female sex workers, people who inject drugs, and migrants. Interventions need to focus more on people living in impoverished conditions and migrants since they remain the most vulnerable to the disease. Strategies such as incorporating useful programs to help alleviate the condition in this region could work to reduce the pandemic. Additionally, it is crucial that the responsible authorities avail the required medications, funds, and medical services at the appropriate times to stop new cases of infection. Bibliography Pope, Cynthia K. and Gerald Shoultz. "An Interdisciplinary Approach to HIV/AIDS Stigma and Discrimination in Belize: The Roles of Geography and Ethnicity." GeoJournal 77, no. 4 (2012): 489-503. Rich, Jessica A. J. 2008. "The AIDS Pandemic in Latin America." Latin American Politics and Society 50 (4): 185-188. Rios-ellis, Britt, Janice Frates, Laura Hoyt Danna, Maura Dwyer, Javier Lopez-zetina, and Carlos Ugarte. "Addressing the Need for Access to Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate HIV/AIDS Prevention for Latinos." Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 10, no. 5 (10, 2008): 445-60. Rodríguez-Álvarez, Elena, Nerea Lanborena, Amaia Bacigalupe, and Unai Martin. "Social Factors Associated with the Knowledge about HIV of the Immigrants from China, Latin America, the Maghreb and Senegal in the Basque Country (Spain)." Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 15, no. 1 (02, 2013): 24-33. Read More