Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia - Wednesday September 15, 11:50 AM
Manoah Esipisu
In an interview with Reuters at the 11th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, the head of the U.N. children's agency said international groups could only make a small contribution to stem AIDS growth. Most responsibility lay with governments.
"I hope this will be a wake-up call to the heads of state, that they must become involved -- for their future, for their countries' future, for their citizen's future. They just must get involved," Bellamy said.
"Without the deep and abiding commitment of the heads of state and therefore the machinery of government put to deal with these issues, all other agencies can bring is a small contribution," she said.
"Uganda and Senegal serve as examples of what the involvement of heads of state and government can do."
Bellamy said she was angered that young girls were most affected by the spread of HIV -- the virus that leads to full-blown AIDS. She blamed increasing sexual violence and some wayward beliefs in Africa for the tragedy.
"Some men in Africa think that if they are infected, and they have sex with virgins, the disease will go away. That is a wrong idea and it means that more young girls get infected.
"With more information, education and government programmes, I continue to believe girls will be better placed to make decisions on their lives and avoid some of the violence," Bellamy said.
POVERTY DRIVES AIDS
She conceded that poverty was one issue driving the spread of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, saying it forced ordinary people to do things they would otherwise have avoided.
With 16,000 new HIV infections around the world daily, Bellamy said Africa's leadership must be concerned about the stability and future of their continent. She added that AIDS put economic development in disarray and reversed economic growth.
Research findings unveiled at the conference on Wednesday showed that older men were fuelling the spread of AIDS by seeking out teenage girls for sex. The 1997-98 study examined striking differences in the speed of HIV spread in Africa. It was conducted in the high-prevalence towns of Kisumu in Kenya and Ndola in Zambia, and the low-case towns of Cotonou in Benin and Yaounde in Cameroon.
The study found HIV infection rates of 15-23 percent among girls 15-19 years old, 26-40 percent among men aged 25 or more, and just 3-4 percent among boys aged 15-19 years of age.
The study was from a random sample of 1,000 men and 1,000 women in each of the towns. Additionally, 300 prostitutes in each town were studied.
Mother-to-child transmission continues to be the leading cause of infection for young children. More than eight million children have lost their mother or both parents to AIDS, with the total expected to reach 13 million by 2000 -- the vast majority in sub-Saharan Africa, according to UNICEF.
Bellamy called for more resources in the fight against AIDS, saying Africa spent only $149-160 million a year compared to $880 million for the United States. But the United States has 40,000 new cases annually, compared to Africa's four million.
"This is simply unacceptable," Bellamy said.
990915
RE990906
Copyright © 1999 - Reuters, Ltd. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Contact Reuters.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1999. 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, 1999. 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. .