Inter Press Service - June 28, 2000
Anthony Stoppard

Speaking at the South African release of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) report on the global epidemic, the programme's representative, Elhadj As Sy, pointed out that: "Some of the most innovative responses to the epidemic have come from the countries most badly affected by the epidemic.

Families have learnt how to care for people living with Aids at home and culturally acceptable prevention and education programmes have been developed." However, he pointed out that many care-givers did not have the necessary tools or support to help them cope with looking after those living with the disease.

But, he added: "These programmes have been proved to work. In Uganda, for example, there have been reduced rates of infection." According to the UNAIDS report, Uganda has brought the estimated HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in its population down, from 14 percent in the early 1990's, to eight percent in 1999. However, the overall statistics for Africa remain grim. Since the epidemic began, AIDS has created some 12,1 million orphans in Africa and the continent has 16 countries where more than a tenth of the adult population is infected with HIV.

Generally, infection rates among young African women are far higher than among men and it is estimated that 12 females -- to every 10 males -- are living with HIV on the continent.

In West Africa -- that has been relatively less affected by the disease -- the number of people infected is creeping up. Cote d'Ivoire is already one of the 15 worst affected countries in the world.

HIV/AIDS infection rates in East Africa are above those in the countries of West Africa and prevalence rates among adults in Ethiopia and Kenya have reached double digit figures -- and continue to rise.

Among the countries of Southern Africa, 35,8 percent of adults in Botswana are infected with HIV while in Zimbabwe and South Africa between 20 and 25 percent of the population has the virus. "We should remember that each of these numbers is a man, a woman and a child," As Sy said.

South Africa, venue of the 13th International AIDS Conference, scheduled for next month, has the largest number of people living with HIV and the fastest rate of infection in the world.

Chairperson, Dr Hoosen Coovadia, underlined the importance of the conference taking place in one of the countries most affected by the Aids epidemic. "People who are most affected by HIV/AIDS need to speak for themselves," he said.

While over 90 percent of people affected by HIV/AIDS live in the developing world, the previous 12 international conferences on AIDS had been held in the advanced economies, Coovadia pointed out.

"We cannot continue with a situation where the medicine is in the North and the patient in the South," commented As Sy.

Coovadia described the Aids 2000 conference as being unique in its attempt to bring together the best medical means of combating the epidemic with the political, economic and social strategies that had been successful in preventing -- and educating people about -- the spread of HIV.

At the release of the report in Geneva, the director of UNAIDS, Peter Piot, called on industrialised nations to write-off debt owed by the developing world. "African governments are paying out four times more in debt service than they spend on health and education. Because of AIDS, poverty is getting worse just as the need for more resources to curb the spread of HIV and alleviate the epidemic's impact on development is growing," he said.

With mainly economically-active adults falling to the disease, the impact on poor African nations is proving devastating.

Agricultural production in nations like Zimbabwe - where 2000 people are dying weekly of AIDS - is falling, and businesses are going bankrupt because of the illness and death of skilled staff, says the report.

By killing off teachers and parents, Aids is also effectively preventing the replacement of skilled workers. The number of new teachers trained in Zambia is only just keeping pace with those dying of AIDS. Children are being forced to give up school because they are orphaned or have to work to support families who have no other breadwinners.

Even if they do get an education, the UN expects one third of 15 year old children in the countries worst affected by Aids to die of the disease. Despite the statistics, the UNAIDS concludes that countries that tackled the epidemic with sound strategies years ago have been rewarded with low, falling or falling rates of prevalence among their population. These include comprehensive prevention and education campaigns -- specifically promoting the use of condoms. (END/IPS/as/sm/00)
000628
IP000603

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2000. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2000. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .