Fighting HIV and AIDS - Research Paper Example

? Policies of Combating HIV/AIDS Policies of Combating HIV/AIDS HIV is an abbreviation for the Human Immune-deficiency virus. In theworld history, HIV is the worst epidemic in society. People infected with this virus usually develop a disease characterized by weakened immune system. The immune system cannot therefore perform its primary role that is to protect the body against any invading infection. This disease is the Acquired Immune-deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Transmission of the disease from one individual to another occurs in several ways. One of the ways is sexual transmission either through the vaginal or seminal fluids if one individual is infected. Other individuals get the virus from blood transfusions if the donor’s blood does not undergo proper screening to determine whether it is safe for use in transfusion. The sharing of needles or any pricking instrument may lead to transmission of the virus. Other transmissions occur among drug users who share injection needles. Transmissions can also occur among gay people if one member is infected. There is also the case of mother to child transmission during birth (Durham and Lashley, 2009). AIDS has caused devastating effects in society. There is no cure so far identified for this disease and it has been claiming lives. It has led to deaths of millions of people in the world. According to a UNAIDS report in November 2010 referring to the end of 2009, there was an estimated thirty four million people living with HIV/AIDS globally. Two and half million of these were children and about sixteen million were women. New infections reached an estimate of 2.6 million including children. In 2009 alone, about two million people died of this disease and there were 16.6 orphans resulting from the epidemic (Poindexter, 2010). Sub-Saharan region presented the highest number of people living with AIDS, new infections and deaths. In this region, there were 22.5 million people living with AIDS and 1.8 million new infections. Death approximation was 1.3 million people. In the North Africa and Middle East, four hundred and sixty thousand people were living with AIDS, seventy five thousand new infections and twenty four thousand deaths. In the South and South-East Asia, an approximate of four million people were living with AIDS, two hundred and seventy thousand new infections and about the same number of deaths were reported. In the East Asia, seven hundred and seventy thousand people were living with AIDS, eighty two thousand new infections and thirty six thousand deaths occurred. In the Oceania region, fifty seven thousand people were living with AIDS, four thousand five hundred new infections and one thousand four hundred deaths occurred (Ehiri, 2009). In Central and South America, 1.4 million people were reportedly living with AIDS, ninety two thousand new infections and fifty eight thousand deaths occurred. In the Caribbean region, two hundred and forty thousand were living with AIDS, seventeen thousand new infections and twelve thousand deaths occurred. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 1.4 million were living with AIDS, a hundred and thirty thousand new infections and seventy six thousand deaths occurred. In North America, 1.5million people were living with AIDS, seventy thousand new infections and twenty six thousand deaths occurred. Lastly, in the Western and Central Europe, eight hundred and twenty thousand people were living with AIDS, thirty one thousand new infections and eight thousand five hundred deaths occurred. The graph below represents the global trends of the HIV pandemic. As illustrated in the diagram, the situation has stabilized. It is evident from the statistics that the epidemic is affecting the Sub-Saharan region immensely. These estimates may not be the real facts on the ground because some newly infected individuals have not undergone diagnosis. In addition, some cases are not reported. HIV has hit the whole world and wiped out a large number since its emergence in 1980’s. The HIV virus originated from central Africa according to the research of several scientists. It probably resulted from the mutation of a chimpanzee virus. The first individual must have acquired the virus a bite from the mammals. From this single individual, it spread to others through sexual transmission. Immigration to other regions further led to the spread of the virus. It emerged in America in the early 1980’s and was rampant among gay people in those times. Gay people were reportedly engaging in a lot of sexual activity then. The victims succumbed to pneumonia and other opportunistic infections and scientists of that time described it as a form of cancer. However, the disease spread fast among gay people and the government was ignorant because it was a problem of the gay. The gay faced stigmatization and some people were grateful that the strange disease was getting rid of the social misfits. This led to its spread infecting drug users who shared injection needles. Sooner than they expected, the virus had spread to people who had received transfusions. The infected people succumbed to death in about to years after infection. The U.S government started laying strategies to combat the menace when it was too late. Some non-governmental organizations initiated research to analyze the disease. The Centre for Disease Control got into action to find out the cause of the strange disease and a possible cure. The CDC declared the disease an epidemic even before the government prioritized research. The French managed to isolate the virus, HTLV-III which, later called HIV. In 1988, people whose relatives were dying because of the disease demonstrated and this demonstration led to the launch of the national campaign to combat AIDS. At that time, there were approximately eighty three thousand cases of the disease and over forty five thousand people had died. The U.S government introduced bans to victims of the disease immigrating to their region. However, the disease spread widely to other regions. Many people described the disease as affecting homosexuals, hemophiliacs, and hard drug users. Even after the spread of HIV to the heterosexuals, there was stigmatization against anyone suffering from the disease (Parker and Ellison, 2003). Several policies are in place today to combat the HIV epidemic. Governments set aside funds for research each financial year. Fighting HIV is a priority in most of the nations especially in the Sub-Saharan region. Each nation has launched a campaign against HIV. The campaigns seek to educate each individual on the modes of transmission of HIV, and possible prevention methods and people from all lifestyles are encouraged to know their status through voluntary testing. Almost all hospitals have a voluntary counseling centre that addresses matters related to HIV (Kartikeyan, 2007). Research organizations in the world have worked relentlessly in the analysis of the deadly virus so that they can develop potential drugs against the virus. Antiretroviral drugs first discovered in 1989 have significantly improved the situation. Currently, there are better and more effective anti retroviral drugs in the market. These have helped lengthen the lives of people living with HIV. People can live for more than twenty years provided they take these as advised by doctors in addition to a good diet and exercise (Kelland, 2011). Each nation is making all efforts to make antiretroviral drugs available to everyone. These drugs are expensive and the poor countries have not had an easy time. Despite efforts to reduce the prices of such, these developing countries are still unable to access these drugs. Rich countries and nongovernmental organizations have come together in their aid. The funding of the UNAIDS is a remarkable step in the fight against HIV. According to Parker and Ellison (2003), policies in the management and prevention of HIV are in place today. The world health organization in conjunction with other research institutions has set up strategies that help reduce new infections and lengthen the life of people living with HIV. Personal responsibility is highly encouraged as this is a sure way to reduce new infections. People are encouraged to be tested to know their status to enable them make wise decisions. There is emphasis on the practice of safe sex; knowing the status of one’s partner of using condoms. Abstinence is also encouraged. There are safety procedures to ensure thorough blood screening in hospitals before transfusion. Sharing of needles in hospitals is no longer in practice. The medical practitioners undergo training on how to ensure their own safety and that of others. According to Ehiri (2009), prenatal and postnatal care in hospitals is currently advanced. Mothers undergo screening and on establishment of their status, prevention of mother to child transmission should be the focus. These mothers receive relevant counseling on how to ensure the safety of the unborn babies. The mother to child transmission has gone down except in remote Africa where access to basic health care is a problem. Postnatal care includes ensuring that positive mothers do not breastfeed and that the babies born receive immune boosters at an early age to ensure they survive. With the rising awareness on the prevention of HIV contraction, the public has the responsibility of demanding for the most hygienic procedures in hospitals and avoiding unnecessary transfusions. Mothers are entitled to basic care and should demand these in all government hospitals (Durham and Lashley, 2009). The stigma against HIV has gone down significantly. This came because of human rights activists who mad it clear that these people were citizens like the rest and deserved fair treatment. People living with HIV live peacefully among the rest currently and receive support from family to live longer. The public has received education on basic home care for people living with HIV. This training enables members of the society to take care of their relatives who are living with HIV easing the pressure on hospitals. Discordant couples receive counseling that enables them protect the party no infected. In workplaces, there are policies that ensure that people living with HIV receive fair treatment and support. It is important to realize that these people contribute to the nations’ workforce (Kartikeyan, 2007). The world has done the best possible to combat the HIV epidemic. The media has worked resiliently to educate the public on the prevention the disease. Another strategy is the provision of sex education in schools to ensure that teenagers are aware of the dangers of engaging in early and unprotected sex. In higher institutions of learning, HIV/AIDS is available as a compulsory course for all students to create the necessary awareness of the dangers of unprotected sex that is rampant. The Church has played part in combating HIV by encouraging its members to abstain and remain monogamous. Its stand on the use of condoms is however debatable because according to reports use of condom is the option taken by many people in HIV prevention. The church strongly condemns the use of condoms. In some regions of the sub-Saharan Africa, male circumcision is encouraged. Studies indicate that uncircumcised males have a higher risk of contracting HIV. Some tribes in Africa traditionally did not believe in male circumcision. These have been encouraged to adopt the practice in order to reduce the risk. The strategies described above have reduced the level of new infections in most of the regions. Research has made it possible for people living with HIV to live longer. The public can make informed decisions regarding sex and the availability of counseling and testing is beneficial to the public. The epidemic however still has devastating effects on the Sub-Saharan region. AIDS is a disease killing the poor now. Lack of access to basic health care explains the many cases of new infections and reported deaths. Polygamy is rampant in such regions and contributes highly to the spread of HIV. Ignorance is rampant in such areas and leads to further spread of the disease (Parker and Ellison, (2003). The strategies put into place have improved the social-economic justice of the world because people living with HIV are no longer discriminated. They can live anywhere and are free to work to sustain their lives. In addition, they can access antiretroviral drugs that help them to fight opportunistic diseases. It is worth mentioning however that the disease reduces their productivity and that affects the economy (Kartikeyan, 2007). HIV/AIDS has brought the world a major loss economically; spending a lot of money in buying drug and reductions of the world’s workforce through death have affected the economy negatively. There are orphaned children the entire world because of HIV. The world lives with the hope that some day a cure for AIDS will be found. Researchers are working tirelessly to make this hope a reality. References Durham, D. and Lashley R. (2009). The person with HIV/AIDS: nursing perspectives. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Ehiri, J. (2009). Maternal and Child Health: Global Challenges, Programs, and Policies. New York: Springer. Kartikeyan, S. (2007). HIV and AIDS: basic elements and priorities. New York: Springer. Kelland, K. (2011). HIV numbers hit new high as AIDS drugs save lives. Retrieved on November 21 2011, from http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/11/21/idINIndia-60639320111121 Parker, M. and Ellison, G. (2003). Learning from HIV and AIDS. Cambiridge: Cambridge University Press. Poindexter, C. (2010). Handbook of HIV and social work: principles, practices, and populations. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Read More