Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. D10206)
Mulama SA University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
Issues;Epidemiological experts and policy makers have shown through various mathematical models the adverse social and economic effects that TB-Tuberculosis and HIV related illnesses can cause. For developing countries which are at the lower echelons of industrialization, skilled manpower is too costly an asset to be lost. AIDS still stands as the biggest challenge yet. Description; As a Masters student of Population Studies at Kenya's University of Nairobi and a seasoned social researcher, I will show the various levels of impacts based on actual findings and my thesis research question. At one level,there is the economic or health care costs and how they end up straining countrys' health budgets. Furthermore, production cost loss characterized by lost workdays as a result of increased morbidity during the pre-AIDS and AIDS phase. Household impacts of the epidemic depicted by measure of 'lost funds used in treating HIV patients' and the social-economic effects of losing breadwinners. The dossier will give a detailed insight of real and perceived effects of HIV/AIDS on the agricultural, mining, fishing and service sectors. Lessons Learned;The IAC 2004 theme is Access to All. This paper seeks to point out the direction of prioritized approach. Policy implications based on previous studies have shown that HIV/AIDS is likely to impact greatly on economies should it strike productive groupings as opposed to dependants. Thusly, in mitigating the socio-economic impact, epidemiological priority target groups must be sought. Recommendations;Future HIV models must take a keen interest in averting houselhold burdens by meeting HIV related health care costs through alternative means. The presentation also radically calls for the overhaul of healthcare systems to accomodate empowered outpatient and or home based care services in place of unavailable hospice care.
Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Developing Countries, HIV Seropositivity, Health Planning Guidelines, Tuberculosis, Delivery of Health Care, Health, Health Education, Public Policy, Research, Population, Financial Management, Disease Outbreaks, Kenya, Humans, economics, organization & administration
