AIDS+in+Africa+Period+3

New infections among children under 15 years old dropped 35% globally between 2009 and 2012. **850,000 new HIV infections among children (0-14 years) in low-and middle-income countries were prevented between 2005 and 2012.** Programs that place mothers at the center of efforts to prevent HIV in children have put the elimination of [|mother-to-child transmission] within reach. **62% of pregnant women living with HIV in the highest HIV burden countries received services to prevent mother-to-child transmission in 2012.** Still, the scale-up of treatment for children living with HIV is still too slow, and reductions in new HIV infections among adolescents have been modest. Key facts:
 * Children under 15 years old are only half as likely as adults to receive the lifesaving treatment they need.
 * 260,000 new HIV infections occurred among children in low and middle-income countries in 2012.
 * Without treatment, one third of infants living with HIV will die before their first birthday. Half will die before their second birthday
 * 300,000 new HIV infections occurred among adolescents in 2012; 2.1 million adolescents (10-19 years) were living with HIV.
 * AIDS-related deaths among adolescents increased by 50% between 2005 and 2012.

An AIDS-Free Generation Can Become Reality
On November 29th, UNICEF released //Children and AIDS: Sixth Stocktaking Report, 2013.// The report focuses on the response to HIV and AIDS among children in low-and middle-income countries and identifying key strategies to accelerate access to HIV prevention, treatment, protection, care and support for children and adolescents. [|Read the full report here].
 * For the first time in the history of the epidemic [|we have the knowledge and tools to achieve an AIDS-free generation].** We have the tools and the know-how to make this objective a reality. UNICEF is working to achieve an AIDS-free generation by:
 * Ensuring the health of pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV
 * Making sure that children have access to antiretroviral therapy (ART)
 * Focusing on prevention and treatment during adolescence, so that children remain AIDS-free in the second decade of life
 * Ensuring social protection and child protection, care and support through the first two decades of life

Breaking the Cycle
The AIDS epidemic began over 25 years ago, and the disease continues to prey upon millions of children around the world. More than 260,000 children became newly infected with HIV / AIDS in 2012. This disease affects non–infected children as well—many are left orphaned or grow up in communities overwhelmed by the disease. To protect children from the devastation of AIDS, UNICEF employs a multifaceted approach that includes: [] (MARIA DEMAS)
 * high-impact HIV prevention, treatment and care for adolescents
 * prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT)
 * increasing empowerment and reducing vulnerability through programs for HIV-affected adolescents
 * addressing gender-based violence and gender inequalities
 * equitable quality education including comprehensive HIV knowledge
 * human rights advocacy and the promotion of enabling laws and policies
 * prioritizing at-risk adolescents who are at higher risk of HIV exposure

[] (RYAN HARRIGAN) [] (STANLEY ZIMMERMAN)
 * "[2000] began with 24 million Africans infected with the virus. In the absence of a medical miracle, nearly all will die before 2010. Each day, 6,000 Africans die from AIDS. Each day, an additional 11,000 are infected." (LIZZY MORGAN)**


 * Out of the 34 million HIV-positive people worldwide, 69 percent live in sub-Saharan Africa. There are roughly 23.8 million infected persons in all of Africa.
 * 91 percent of the world’s HIV-positive children live in Africa.
 * More than one million adults and children die every year from HIV/AIDS in Africa alone. In 2011, 1.7 million people worldwide died from AIDS.
 * Since the epidemic of HIV/AIDS, more than 60 million people have contracted the illness, and over 30 million have died from an HIV-related cause.
 * 71 percent of the HIV/AIDS-related deaths in 2011 were people living in Africa.
 * Antiretroviral drug treatments can tremendously decrease the number of HIV-related deaths by delaying the progression of the virus and allowing people to live relatively healthy, normal lives.
 * Due to an insufficient supply of antiretroviral drugs and health care providers in 2010, only 5 of the 10 million HIV-positive patients in Africa were able to receive treatment.
 * Because of HIV/AIDs, the average life-expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa is 54.4 years of age. In some countries in Africa, it’s below 49.
 * The HIV/AIDS epidemic has drastically slowed the economic growth and social development in Africa, because hundreds of thousands of people are unable to work or receive an education.
 * Contraceptive use of condoms has doubled in recent years because it is an inexpensive provision to offer to both the HIV-positive and negative. However, the method is void when couples are hoping to conceive children or have already engaged with infected persons.
 * If a pregnant woman is not treated with the proper antiretroviral drugs, there is a 20-45 percent chance that her infant will contract the virus from her during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. Because 59 percent of HIV-positive people in Africa are women, the vast majority of children diagnosed with HIV have had the virus passed from their mothers. (Paige Nowacoski)


 * HIV/AIDS in Africa**

Africa is the continent most affected by the AIDS epidemic, with more than 65% of cases.

Epidemiology: 34 to 46 million people worldwide are infected with AIDS. In 2003 alone, more than 3 million people died. That same year, Africa whose population is only 11% of the world population, was home to 2/3 of all patients with HIV in the world. Today, one African out of 12 is carrying the virus and/or sick.

The impact of the disease is not only measured by the number of deaths. The social consequences are major. AIDS destroys the efforts made to enable the empowerment of women, destroys the slow progress in terms of education, impact people's health care (in South Africa today, 80% of patients hospitalized in public hospitals are HIV positive. Malaria is going down but tuberculosis and diseases related to malnutrition are progressing rapidly). Population growth in Africa has stopped. Perinatal mortality is up dramatically. Life expectancy has dropped to 49 years in southern African countries while it is 78 years in Europe and North America.

Throughout the world, people aged between 20 and 40 years old are most affected. This means that the forces, economic drivers of African countries, are missing. The economic impact is considerable. [] (MARIA DEMAS)

[] (RYAN HARRIGAN)

=A History of the African AIDS epidemic.= Reviewed by David A Lewis By John Iliffe, Oxford: James Currey Publishers, 2006, pp 208; £14.95. ISBN 0-85255-890-2. #|Author information #|► #|Copyright and License information #|►
 * David A Lewis**, NationalInstitute of Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa;davidl@nicd.ac.za

Copyright©2006 BMJ Publishing Group.

Why has Africa a uniquely terrible HIV/AIDS epidemic? This was the question posed most provocatively by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and reiterated by John Iliffe on the opening page of this book. In the course of the 159 pages that follow, Iliffe attempts to answer it using a historical approach. His conclusion, put most simply, is that Africa has suffered from HIV/AIDS more than other continents because it had the first epidemic established in the general population. He makes a comparison between the HIV/AIDS epidemic and industrial revolutions/nationalistic movements, suggesting that the former only makes sense as a sequence. In the first part of the book, Iliffe describes the origins of HIV‐1 and HIV‐2, using data derived from molecular evolutionary studies and retrospective testing of stored sera. Having established western equatorial Africa as the likely source of HIV in Africa, he then outlines migration routes for the HIV‐1 virus, first to east Africa and, subsequently, to the south and to the west. Throughout these early chapters, it becomes clear that successful spread of HIV‐1 requires a complicated interplay between various environmental, social, and cultural factors, such as poverty, lack of empowerment of women, migrant labour practices, civil unrest, views concerning premarital sexual intercourse, early marriage, and the use of commercial sex workers. In the latter half of the book, Iliffe describes responses from international, governmental, and non‐governmental perspectives. Many people consider the measures taken by national and international authorities in the 1980s and early 1990s as generally inadequate. Most African governments were slow to grasp the scale of the crisis and many were weak regimes faced with more immediate problems. The last chapter discusses the containment of the HIV/AIDS epidemic with revitalisation of the response to HIV/AIDS at both the global and African levels. Overall, this is an interesting and well researched book, which offers an informative introduction to the African AIDS epidemic. [] (RYAN HARRIGAN)

(MARIA DEMAS)

(MARIA DEMAS)

HIV is a virus spread through body fluids that affects specific cells of the immune system, called CD4 cells, or T cells. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body can’t fight off infections and disease. When this happens, HIV infection leads to AIDS. Learn more about the stages of HIV and how to tell whether you’re infected. [] (MARIA DEMAS) (MARIA DEMAS)

(MARIA DEMAS)

=HIV/AIDS in South Africa= HIV/AIDS is perceived to be more prevalent in South Africa than anywhere else worldwide. About 12% of the South African population is affected by HIV/AIDS; excluding children, that percentage rises to 18%. Additionally, the neighboring countries of South Africa are comparably affected, making them among the top infected nations of the world. AIDS in South Africa is more prevalent than anywhere else in the word.

South Africa’s battle against AIDS
For almost a decade, the number of South Africans receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment has been rising rapidly. Additionally, new infections among adolescents have been steadily decreasing. But in spite of the progress, the damage caused by HIV/AIDS remains substantial. Older age groups continue to develop new infections, perpetuating the high percentage of HIV/AIDS deaths. Of all demographic groups, female adults who are under 40 years of age are most affected by HIV/AIDS. About 80% of 20 to 24 year old South Africans with HIV/AIDS are women. Only about 33% of 25 to 29 year old South Africans with HIV/AIDS are men. Within just three years, the HIV/AIDS infection number of older adolescents dwindled by 50%. While prevalence in those who are older than 20 have increased, the prevalence in South Africans younger than 20 years old have decreased. Condoms are more widely used among younger individuals, and are least used among more mature people. Most men and women under the age of 25 use condoms. A little over half of the population between the ages 25 and 49 also claim to do so. Despite the numbers, older adults are among the most educated about HIV/AIDS, with young adults slightly lagging behind. South Africans who are over 50 years of age are among the least educated about HIV/AIDS. Only about one third are aware of the truth. Amongst pregnant women, the highest HIV-positive population is in KwaZulu-Natal at 37%. The Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Limpopo have the lowest HIV-positive population at 13%, 16%, and 18% respectively. In 2006, the remaining South African provinces each totaled in at a minimum of 26% of HIV-positive pregnant women in prenatal clinics. More recent studies show that the number of infected pregnant women may be plateauing at around 30%. This is possibly due to a decrease in younger pregnant women with HIV. Aside from the HIV-infected pregnant population, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal encompass 55% of the grand total of infected South Africans. Even with the increase in prevalence all throughout South Africa between 2005 to 2008, KwaZulu-Natal continues to have the highest rate of infection. Amongst the sexually active population in South Africa, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal have the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence. Western Cape and Northern Cape have the lowest.

Demographics
A 2008 study showed that there was a 13.6% infection rate among Africans, 1.7% among Coloreds, 0.3% among Indians, and 0.3% among Whites.

Economic impact
A study conducted in 2003 compared a no- HIV/AIDS case with an HIV/AIDS case. It was executed in order to predict yearly growth rates from 2002 to 2015. The study demonstrated that real GDP growth would be lower within the HIV/AIDS scenario by 0.6 %. The per-capita GDP growth, however, was higher by 0.9 %. Increasing populations and labor forces would respectively grow to be 1.5 and 1.2 % less, as would the rate of unemployment at 0.9 % less. The cost of HIV/AIDS includes expenses due to increased absenteeism, compromised productivity, more turnovers, in addition to healthcare costs. In 2002, a major company located in South Africa estimated HIV/AIDS-related expenses to consist of 4% of the total salaries within the region. Another major company conducted a study in 2000 and concluded that amongst the workforce in the local community, 15% tested HIV-positive. Amongst those who were infected, 11% had were suffering from AIDS as well.

Awareness campaigns
South Africa is home to four central HIV/AIDS campaigns for raising awareness: Khomanani, LoveLife, Soul City, and Soul Buddyz. The more conventional of the four are Khomanani and LoveLife. Soul Buddyz and Soul City instead utilize popular forms of media to spread information on HIV/AIDS. Both are television series; Soul Buddyz and Soul City target younger and older audiences respectively and have proved to be the most effective campaigns. Despite the efforts to raise awareness, the questionable quality of the country’s manufactured condoms hindered the process. In 2007, over 20 million condoms that were manufactured locally, were recalled because they were defective. In 2012, other contraceptive devices distributed at events failed simple tests.

Co-infection: Tuberculosis
In 2007, a prediction was made that one in three infected with HIV will develop tuberculosis (TB). In 2002, the government declared mandatory cross-checking patients diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB) for HIV infection. While not all TB patients have undergone protocol, in 2006, an HIV test was done for 40% of TB patients within South Africa, and TB prevention has converged with HIV/AIDS prevention. TB or other similar illnesses are among the highest causes of AIDS-related deaths. To counter this, South Africa created an “HIV & AIDS and STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) Strategic Plan.”

The history of HIV and AIDS history within South Africa
First case in AIDS of South Africa was first diagnosed in 1983 when two patients appeared to carry the disease. The first AIDS-related death was recorded in 1983. Just three years later, 46 more cases of AIDS were diagnosed. AIDS was determined to be much more prevalent amongst the homosexual population before 1990. By 1990, AIDS was not a familiar disease to South Africans, as under 1% of the population had the disease. In 1996, the percentage of those infected rose to 3%, and just four years later in 1999, the numbers jumped to 10%. By 1995, AIDS infection began to reach a pandemic level. **1985**: South Africa’s 1st Advisory Group for AIDS was established by the government. **1990**: 1st national antenatal survey revealed that 0.8% of pregnant women were infected with HIV. Around 5.6 South Africans were shown to be living with HIV. Annual antenatal surveys continued to be conducted each year. **1993**: HIV prevalence in pregnant women rose to 4.3%. The number of HIV infections recorded rose by 60% within two years. The numbers were predicted to double. **1995**: A grant of R14.27 million was contracted by The Department of Health to create to //Sarafina’s//, a musical sequel to target AIDS awareness toward younger people. The project led to much controversy eventually causing the contract to be nullified. The Seventh International Conference for People Living with HIV and AIDS was also held this year. **1996**: South Africa’s soccer team showed their support for the Campaign raising AIDS Awareness at the African Nations Cup by wearing red ribbons. The Eleventh International Conference for People Living with HIV and AIDS featured South Africa’s health minister who commented on the great difficulty of treatment for those with HIV living in poorer nations. **1997**: The Health Department endorsed the controversial drug for AIDS: Virodene, by arguing that currently available medications are not accessible to most infected patients. The clinical trials done to test Virodene had previously been investigated by parliament. **1999**: The campaign preventing HIV called LoveLife was founded. **2000**: A 5-year plan conducted by Department of Health to fight against STIs, AIDS, and HIV. In order to supervise the process, an AIDS Council on the National level (SANAC) was established. **2001**: The government of South Africa fought with pharmaceutical companies all over the country in order to allow for less expensive and locally-produced anti-retrovirals. Right to Care, a NGO committed to treatment and prevention of HIV and other associated illnesses, was founded. With funding by ISAOD’s PEPFAR, Right to Care rapidly expanded and treated over 125, thousand patients tested positive for HIV within ten years. **2002**: In response to the Treatment Action Campaign and others, transmission prevention drugs became available to pregnant women by order of the High Court.

AIDS Denialism
**2000**: Thabo Mbeki, then President of South Africa, argued that while HIV is a cause of AIDS, it is not the only cause. He believed that accepting a wide variety of causes may lead to a more thorough treatment response. **2001**: A panel of government-appointed scientists reported that alternative treatments were an option for HIV/AIDS. The government of South Africa refused to change its policies regarding the relationship between HIV and AIDS unless alternative scientific proof was presented. **2003**: The Ministry of Health refused to provide treatment for HIV-infected individuals despite help from international drug companies. In November, plans to make anti-retroviral treatment available readily and publicly publicly was approved. Prior to this, those with HIV could only receive treatments for infections, but not HIV itself with anti-retrovirals, in the confines of the public sector health system. **2006**: Improving HIV/AIDS treatments was hindered by many government officials, including Mbeki. The health minister at the time, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, suggested that eating food such as olive oil, lemon, and garlic would cure the disease. She was called for removal, but stayed in office until Mbeki was removed. **2007**: Tshabalala-Msimang and Mbeki dismissed Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, the Deputy Health minister, a figure well-respected by medical staff and AIDS prevention activists. She was dismissed due to corruption. However, it was popularly believed that her removal was due to her views on the relationship between AIDS and HIV. **2009**: Jacob Zuma won presidency of South Africa and ceased the political culture of denialism. **2013**: The US announced that they would halve the support given to South Africa by 2017 because of issues regarding its own economic state.

Media’s Role
The media in South Africa took a very aggressive stance toward Mbeki, the president, and Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, the Health Minister. The press made a point to highlight and attack the denialistic viewpoints of Mbeki and Tshabalala-Msimang. Since the end of Mbeki’s presidential term, the news media has become less forceful. Once a new system of AIDS treatment rose with Jacob Zuma, HIV-related news required less coverage. However, the number of health journalists has subsided with the rise of this new era. [] (RYAN HARRIGAN) AIDS in Africa informational video: [] (STANLEY ZIMMERMAN)

AIDS in Africa informational video: [] (MARIA DEMAS)

What Can Be Done to S to p the Spread of AIDS Among Africa n Children?

Rash in i Wijes in ghe Kannangara

**Abstract** The AIDS epidemic is devastat in g communities all over the world, especially in the Africa n region, in many ways. This research paper addresses the question: What can Africa n governments do to s to p the spread of AIDS among Africa n children? First, I have presented an overview of the HIV virus; then I have discussed different ways Africa n children get exposed to this deadly disease. Later, I have expla in ed the fac to rs that contribute to the rapid spread of AIDS among Africa n children. Then, I have described physical, psychological, and social problems faced by children. In the conclusion, I have mentioned some ways that local governments can get in volved in order to end this devastation. AIDS was first discovered almost two decades ago; s in ce then it has rapidly spread around the globe. Now, almost every country in the world is battl in g this deadly epidemic. It is reported that 2.8 million people died of AIDS in 2005, and 4.1 million people got in fected with this deadly disease (UN AIDS, 2006c, p.8). By the end of 2005, approximately 38.6 million people were liv in g with AIDS around the world. Consequently, AIDS has affected millions of people in the world physically, psychologically, and socially; it cont in ues to affect people of all age groups and of all social and economic status (“HIV and AIDS ”, n.d.). And the effects of AIDS are much worse in Africa than in any other region of the world. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to only 10% of the world’s population, but approximately 64% of the world’s AIDS population lives in this region (UN AIDS, 2006c, p.15). By the end of 2005, 24.5 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were liv in g with AIDS, and another 2.7 million people became in fected with AIDS (“HIV and AIDS ”, n.d.). Southern Africa is mostly affected by this epidemic, and approximately 43% of children in this region are HIV in fected. N in e out of ten children in fected with AIDS live in sub-Saharan Africa, which is approximately 2 million children (UN AIDS , 2006c, p.15). Accord in g to “Children, HIV” (n.d.), children are affected by AIDS in several different ways. Many children in Africa become orphans when one or both of their parents die of AIDS or AIDS related in fections. Many others have to take care of their parents and relatives who are in fected with AIDS. Other children get in fected with AIDS, and most of them die due to lack of treatment (n.p.). Many people th in k that children do not get in fected with AIDS because it is a sexually transmitted disease (“Children, HIV”, n.d.). But the sad reality is that every day approximately forty children die of AIDS, and by the beg in n in g of 2007, 2.3 million children worldwide have been in fected with AIDS. Every year 380,000 children die of AIDS (“S to p AIDS ”, n.d.). Accord in g to “Children, HIV” (n.d.), most children in fected with AIDS die before the age of five. Children in developed countries rarely get in fected with AIDS because mothers and babies there get necessary treatment to prevent the transmission of this disease (UN AIDS, 2001, p.9). On the other hand, children in Africa get in fected with AIDS every year due to various reasons (“Children, HIV”, n.d.). In recent years, the global response to the AIDS epidemic has in creased, but the epidemic still cont in ues (“Children, HIV”, n.d.). Most AIDS in fections in Africa n children could have been prevented if necessary in itiatives would have been taken. S in ce AIDS is in creas in gly affect in g the Africa n children in many ways, it is high time measures should be taken to control or s to p the further spread of this disease among Africa n parents and their children. This paper will in form governments about essential steps that need to be taken in order to prevent the further spread of AIDS among Africa n children. Through this research paper, I am hop in g to address the follow in g issues: **What Is the HIV Virus?** Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS ) is caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Smith, 2001, p.327). HIV is a lentivirus, which is a subgroup of retrovirus, but HIV conta in s more genes than a regular retrovirus. CD4+ cells in the immune system are affected by HIV; the human immune system is unable to eradicate the HIV virus from the body as completely as it does when other viruses enter the body. After enter in g the body, the HIV virus cont in uously replicates, and subsequently HIV in fected cells outnumber the number of CD4+ cells in the body. HIV spreads throughout the body very rapidly. Two types of HIV viruses are HIV-1 and HIV-2. The spread of HIV-2 is limited to West Africa, while HIV-1 is found all over the globe. HIV replicates through an unusual mechanism. First, the enzyme reverse transcriptase converts s in gle stranded RNA (ssRNA) into s in gle stranded DNA (ssDNA) (pp.328-329). Then it produces the complementary strand to the ssDNA and facilitates the in corporation of virus DNA into the host cell genome. After that, the host cell produces viral DNA (p.329). ** How Do Africa n Children Get In fected with HIV?** The first discovery of AIDS was shock in g to doc to rs and medical professionals. Dr. Samuel Border said, “ In June of 1981 we saw a young gay man with the most devastat in g immune deficiency we had ever seen. We said, ‘We don’t know what this is, but we hope we don’t ever see another case like it aga in ’” (WHO, 1994, in UN AIDS, 2006a, p.1). Now, AIDS has spread to all corners of the world, but some countries have been affected worse than others. HIV transmits ma in ly through sexual in teractions, but it can also transmit through blood or contam in ated needles etc. used by the AIDS patients (“Children, HIV”, n.d.). Fortunately, HIV is not a virus which transmits through casual contact, through saliva or tears of an in fected person. How ever, HIV/ AIDS can be transmitted from an in fected mother to her child (Smith, 2001, p.132). A child is a person who is under the age of fifteen (“Children, HIV”, n.d.). It is reported that 90% of AIDS - in fected children get AIDS through pregnancy, birth, or breast feed in g. Approximately 15-30% of children born to HIV-positive mothers get the disease (“Prevent in g Mother”, n.d.). In the year 2005, around 700,000 children became in fected with AIDS through Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT). UN AIDS (2006d) reported that sub-Saharan Africa is home to nearly 90% of AIDS - in fected children (p.132). Previous studies have s how n that one in three children die before the age of one; one in two die before the age of two, and most of them die before the age of five (“Children, HIV”, n.d.). Children can also become in fected with AIDS through breast feed in g. If a mother in fected with HIV feeds her baby, that baby has a 5-20% chance of gett in g this deadly disease (“Prevent in g Mother”, n.d.). This suggests that an in crease in AIDS - in fected women will directly impact the HIV rates among children (Smith, 2001, p.132). Accord in g to “Children, HIV” (n.d.), although children ma in ly get in fected through their mothers, they can also become in fected through sexual abuse and dur in g treatment in medical facilities. Previous statistics have s how n that sexual abuse directly impacts the AIDS transmission among children. “Children, HIV” (n.d.) states, “ In parts of Africa, the myth that HIV can be cured through sex with a virg in has led to a large number of rapes - sometimes of very young children - by in fected men” (n.p.). The article further says that HIV transmission may occur due to young people who engage in sexual activities. Many children in this region become sexually active at a very young age. Unsterilized medical equipment and blood transfusions are also responsible for in creas in g the number of HIV- in fected children. In most developed countries, HIV transmission through medical facilities has been elim in ated, and it suggests that it is possible to avoid transmission via medical facilities (n.p.). **Why Do So Many Children In fected with AIDS Live in Africa ?** MTCT can be easily prevented by provid in g antiretroviral drugs. HIV-positive women are advised to take antiretroviral drugs to prevent MTCT. This treatment is also given to newborn babies for a short time to reduce the chance of gett in g in fected (“Prevent in g Mother”, n.d.). Antiretroviral drugs have proven to decrease the rate of MTCT from 20-45% to less than 2% in many western countries (“Children, HIV”, n.d.). Accord in g to the recently released report of UN AIDS (2006c), between the years 2003-2005 antiretroviral drug availability has in creased by eight times (p.9). But in sub-Saharan Africa, only 17% of people have the opportunity to receive these drugs (p.15). Although drugs like in trapartum and neonatal nevirap in e have proven to reduce HIV transmission by approximately 40%, studies have s how n women who consume these drugs could develop resistance (UN AIDS, 2006d, p.133). Occurrence of MTCT in developed countries is very rare because the necessary in itiatives have been taken to prevent it (UN AIDS, 2001, p.9). On the contrary, UN AIDS (2006d) reports that by 2005 only 6% of pregnant mothers in Africa received necessary services to prevent MTCT; this suggests that more work has to be done to make more affordable and effective drugs (p.133). Accord in g to “Prevent in g Mother” (n.d.), most Western countries perform caesarean sections on HIV positive mothers because caesareans have proven to decrease the baby’s exposure to the mother’s body fluid. How ever, caesareans are very rare in develop in g countries. HIV-positive mothers in western countries give their babies a substitute for breast milk, but mothers in poor countries cannot afford these expensive formulas. Another problem is that babies may not get the necessary nutrients from the formula as found in breast milk. Unless prepared properly, formulas can make babies sick. So it’s essential to educate women about breast milk substitutions. In some parts of Africa clean water necessary to prepare baby formulas is rarely found (n.p.). So, governments have to develop in frastructures, provide basic necessities, and improve medical services to eradicate HIV in Africa. In some parts of Africa, 59% of adults in fected with AIDS are women (UN AIDS , 2006c, p.15). There is a shortage of test in g facilities in the Africa n regions, which leads to in creas in g numbers of HIV in fection there (“HIV and AIDS ”, n.d.). I believe it is essential to identify the women in fected with AIDS because it will help to decrease the number of babies gett in g in fected in pregnancy. Accord in g to “Children, HIV” (n.d.), the in creas in g number of young women in fected with AIDS is a barrier to reduc in g the number of children in fected with AIDS ; this is because there is a greater risk for a baby to get the disease from an HIV- in fected mother. Girls are more vulnerable to AIDS in fection than any other group in Africa, and this directly affects the rate of MTCT because these girls are the future mothers (UN AIDS , 2006d, p.136). Also, ignorant mothers are more vulnerable to this deadly disease than others. Education is very important in prevent in g the transmission of AIDS. Only 64% of children in Africa are enrolled in primary schools, and this percentage is much lower in AIDS -affected regions (UN AIDS, 2006b, p.97). Accord in g to UN AIDS (2006d), girls do not get a proper education, which is a vital to ol for them to know about this epidemic. Previous studies have s how n that educated girls are less likely to get in fected with AIDS compared to others. It further says that girls with higher education will marry later than others, will have more knowledge about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, and are more likely to get help and necessary services. This is because students in schools learn about HIV in fection, transmission, prevention, and treatment; as such, they become well- in formed and conscious (p.136). Be in g un in formed and ignorant, illiterate people are less likely to get help from necessary agencies than literate people. They are also more likely to become victims of AIDS. This s how s that governments have to do more work if they want to control this epidemic. Although AIDS is prevalent in Africa, discrim in ation aga in st patients is relatively high (McElrath, 2002, p.205). HIV-positive women are afraid to go for the HIV test due to discrim in ation (UN AIDS, 2006d, p.134). Women who already know their status are less likely to attend any counsel in g or treatment sessions (“Prevent in g Mother”, n.d.). Gender in equality in the Africa n region also leads to discrim in ation aga in st women (McElrath, 2002, p.205). Accord in g to McElrath, a couple of years ago, a South Africa n woman was killed by the local community because she was HIV-positive. In some Africa n countries, many women get HIV after marriage because of their husbands (UN AIDS, 2006d, p.136). In many Africa n cultures, men are allowed to have more than one wife, and most of those men do not use condoms; this can in crease the risk of in fection among women. So governments need to make contraceptives available. They also should improve women’s social status if they want to control HIV transmission among children. Accord in g to “Children, HIV” (n.d.), lack of healthcare facilities and tra in ed healthcare workers also contributes to the in creas in g number of AIDS positive children in Africa. Lack of healthcare workers makes it difficult for children to access healthcare. Africa n countries have a poor doc to r- to -patient ratio. Furthermore, medical facilities must be improved by enhanc in g medical technology. Most children in fected with AIDS die at a young age, but children who are treated with therapy live longer. Approximately 10% of Africa n children who require antiretroviral drugs receive them. Another problem is that most available drugs are not suitable for children. Most drugs designed for children exist only as tablets, but children cannot swallow them. S in ce these drugs do not exist as syrups or powders, caregivers tend to break adult tablets and give them to children. This results in children gett in g to o little or to o much dosage per day (n.p.). **What Are the Problems Africa n Children and Their Families Face Because of AIDS ?** In Africa the AIDS morality rate is very high (“HIV and AIDS ”, n.d.). Also, life expectancy of a person liv in g in sub-Saharan Africa is around 47 years, but if HIV were not prevalent in Africa, it would be around 62 years. Approximately 85% of children in fected with AIDS live in sub-Saharan Africa (UN AIDS, 2006d, p.132). Children who get in fected with AIDS have to suffer a lot through the rest of their lives. Accord in g to Smith (2001), approximately 15% of children die by the age of one, but the death rate decreases after the age of two (p.133). Most children (75-90 %) who get HIV from their mothers will s how symp to ms before the age of one, while others will s how symp to ms after ten years. These children are also go in g to face opportunistic in fections such as tuberculosis, which will cause serious health effects due to weak immune systems (“Children, HIV”, n.d.). Accord in g to “S to p AIDS ” (n.d.), if the local governments do not do anyth in g to control this epidemic, the AIDS mortality rate will cont in ue to rise. More than 12 million children in sub-Saharan Africa are AIDS orphans (“ AIDS Orphans”, n.d.). In this region, 9% of children have lost at least one of their parents due to AIDS. In most countries in Africa, AIDS is responsible for more than half of the child orphans. Death of one or both parents or loved ones makes these children orphans. Accord in g to statistics of UN AIDS (2006b), many children who lose their parents are taken care of by their relatives; others live with strangers or alone (p.92). Although most children live with their relatives or guardians, they do not get the necessary affection and care that they would have gotten if they lived with their parents. They also do not get the same education, healthcare, and other necessities compared to other Africa n children. Children who are not orphans, but have one or both parents in fected with AIDS, have to go through many f in ancial and social difficulties (UN AIDS , 2006b, p.91). They have to take care of their sick parents, relatives, and sibl in gs; they also have to contribute to the family economy. Due to AIDS, economic levels in homes decrease, so children have to work in order to earn money for the family (“Children, HIV”, n.d.). Most of these children work under harsh conditions that are in appropriate for their age. Some children also have to look after their younger brothers and sisters if their parents have died from AIDS or have been in fected with AIDS. This raises serious questions s in ce these children are not capable of support in g their sibl in gs. Some children get separated from their sibl in gs when their parents die, and this negatively impacts those children; this is partly because one guardian does not have the ability to care for many children (UN AIDS, 2006b, p.91). A recent study s how s that orphans have high levels of anger and depression compared to other children (“ AIDS Orphans”, n.d.). This may lead to psychological problems later on in their lives. Children get emotionally affected after see in g their parents, teachers, and friends dy in g of or suffer in g from AIDS (UN AIDS, 2006b, p.92; Smith, 2001, p.134). Children who are in fected with AIDS also face discrim in ation (Smith, 2001, p.213). These children do not get the sympathy that children in fected with other diseases, like cancer or mental retardation, get ( Canosa, 1991). The ma in reason for discrim in ation is that AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease, and in many parts of Africa, sex is considered a taboo (Smith, 2001, p.213). HIV causes enrollment in schools to decrease. Children who get in fected with AIDS will miss many days of school due to frequent illnesses (Smith, 2001, p.134). Some children stay at home to care for relatives who are in fected with AIDS. Others miss school because they have to work or because they do not have enough money to pay for school. UN AIDS (2006b) reports that even in the same family, orphans are less likely to attend school compared to other children in the same house (p.92). A study has s how n that orphans who live with their mothers are most likely to attend school, compared to orphans who live with their fathers (p.93). This may be because most fathers go to work in far away places, and they do not have time to care about their children’s education. In some in stances, even children who can afford to go to school do not get a proper education because some of their teachers are also affected by this deadly disease (p.97). For example, 21% of teachers in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties and 13% of teachers in their mid-thirties to mid-forties in South Africa have been in fected with AIDS. Most of the schools in the poor regions of Africa are run by one or two teachers, and when one of them gets in fected with AIDS, many students do not get the opportunity to learn with their teachers. **Conclusion** Decrease in the further spread of AIDS in Africa is urgent. Africa has already been devastated by this deadly disease, and we cannot to lerate the further spread of it. Local governments have to take necessary actions s in ce this epidemic has impacted Africa n communities in many ways. Every day people are dy in g, and many more are left with pa in ful experiences that HIV has left beh in d. When the bread w in ner of the family gets in fected, the whole family faces the socio-economic complexities. Economies of most AIDS -affected countries, such as Cameroon, are fall in g down (“HIV and AIDS ”, n.d.). To urism falls down s in ce no to urists will come to visit a country devastated by AIDS. S in ce millions of people are liv in g with AIDS, the work force of these countries has greatly decreased (UN AIDS , 2006b, pp. 93-94). In the long run, governments will have huge debts, and at the same time they will have to take care of the sick and the orphans. The MTCT can be easily controlled if the number of AIDS in fections among adults can be reduced. Children get this deadly disease through their mothers, so if we can reduce the number of HIV-positive pregnant women, the number of MTCT will eventually reduce (UN AIDS, 2006d, p.132.). In order to reduce the number of AIDS - in fected mothers, governments should provide necessary medical services and counsel in g for pregnant women and mothers (p.133). Moreover, voluntary HIV test in g for all women should be encouraged, and young girls should be educated in order to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Most women are afraid to get tested or to get help because of the fears of discrim in ation. Governments should come forward and make sure that every woman receives necessary services to prevent MTCT. Local officials should take necessary steps to educate pregnant women and HIV in fected mothers about the steps that they should take to prevent any possible MTCT. Replacement of feed in g and caesareans should be made manda to ry if the mother is suspected to have HIV. Services to in crease the nutrition levels of HIV- in fected mothers and their babies should be implemented. Most importantly, antiretroviral drugs should be provided to both mothers and newborn babies (UN AIDS, 2006d, p.133). S in ce drugs (powders and syrups) suitable for babies and young children have not yet reached Africa n children, the government should take necessary actions to provide appropriate and low cost drugs for these children. HIV- in fected children in developed countries get necessary treatments, which enable them to live longer, healthy lives (UN AIDS, 2001, p.9). On the other hand, children in many poor Africa n countries die due to lack of treatment. Although antiretroviral drugs are available to patients in developed countries, patients in develop in g countries cannot afford those costly drugs. The local governments also should f in d ways to provide low cost generic drugs to mothers and children in order to prevent MTCT in Africa. More affordable and advanced drugs are needed; yet gender equality, economic reforms, and development of in frastructure are more essential. Due to gender discrim in ation in Africa, women cannot protect themselves from HIV. Social attitudes to ward HIV- in fected women should be changed through in creas in g the awareness and knowledge about HIV in local communities. Rapes of young girls are common in the most parts of Africa, and the crim in als do not face any legal charges. New legislation has to protect the rights of women and children and to ensure gender equality (UNAIIDS, 2006d, p.137). Although western women have reached higher positions in the society, women in Africa still live under primitive conditions, so it’s government’s responsibility to implement plans to in crease the social status of women. Normally, Africa n girls get less education than the boys do. This is partly due to gender discrim in ation, and this will result in lower socio-economic status among women. This will cause women to depend on men for all their needs. When both parents die due to AIDS or AIDS -related in fections, children get orphaned. When children get orphaned, the older children have to take care of their younger sibl in gs. These children do not have the ability to fulfill healthcare and other essential needs of their younger sibl in gs or even themselves. The governments should do someth in g to f in d a home for these children and most importantly to provide medical treatment for them. Another problem is that sexual relationships are dom in ated by men (“HIV and AIDS ”, n.d.). And many men in Africa do not use condoms because of the social beliefs prevalent in that society. So even though women do know their partners have HIV, they cannot do anyth in g to prevent the transmission. This means it is essential to educate both men and women about HIV transmission and prevention. Education will play a vital role in decreas in g the number of AIDS cases in Africa. Enrollment of children in schools is very important because school is the primary in stitution to give the message about AIDS to children. It is important to beg in sex education when children are young. Children should be educated about how to prevent gett in g in fected with HIV and how they can utilize the services available if they get in fected. Strict laws should be imposed in order to prevent young children from hav in g sex (“Children, HIV”, n.d.). As I expla in ed earlier, HIV causes enrollment in schools to decrease. It is government’s responsibility to f in d ways to get the education for these children who do not attend school. For example, they can beg in a tu to r in g service target in g those children. Accord in g to UN AIDS (2006d), many studies have proven that AIDS education in schools is essential to have many successful outcomes (p.138). Through education, myths about HIV in fection and in fected people could be eradicated. Governments can also use mass media to educate people because now they are available even in the poorest regions of the world. HIV affects healthcare, social, and economic systems of countries. Impacts of HIV/ AIDS can be found everywhere in Africa. Further, HIV cannot be prevented solely through the efforts of Africa n leaders; they need the help of the in ternational community. HIV prevention will not succeed only through medications; many social reforms are also needed to combat the AIDS epidemic in Africa. HIV in fection in Africa has become a humanitarian crisis, and we cannot end this in a couple of days. Although we are equipped with very sophisticated technology, even in the 21st century, Africa without AIDS seems to be a dream. We should try to develop an AIDS vacc in e because deadly diseases like small pox were eradicated through vacc in ation. At this po in t of time, it seems to be the only way to get rid of this deadly disease. Until then, let’s work hard to prevent further spread of AIDS among Africa n children. [] (MARIA DEMAS)
 * 1) What is the HIV virus?
 * 2) How do Africa n children get in fected with HIV?
 * 3) Why do so many children in fected with AIDS live in Africa ?
 * 4) What are the problems Africa n children and their families face because of AIDS ?

SLIDESHOW: [] (MARIA DEMAS)

Human immunodeficiency virus, or [|HIV], is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome ([|AIDS]). The virus weakens a person's ability to fight infections and [|cancer]. People with HIV are said to have AIDS when they develop certain infections or cancers or when their CD4 (T-cell) count is less than 200. CD4 count is determined by a [|blood] test in a doctor's office. Having HIV does not always mean that you have AIDS. It can take many years for people with the virus to develop AIDS. HIV and AIDS cannot be cured. However, with the medications available today, it is possible to have a normal lifespan with little or minimal interruption in quality of life. There are ways to help people stay healthy and live longer. How Does HIV and AIDS Cause Illness? HIV attacks and destroys a type of white blood cell called a CD4 cell, commonly called the T-cell. This cell's main function is to fight disease. When a person's CD4 cell count gets low, they are more susceptible to illnesses.

What Is AIDS?
AIDS is the more advanced stage of HIV infection. When the immune system CD4 cells drop to a very low level, a person's ability to fight infection is lost. In addition, there are several conditions that occur in people with HIV infection with this degree of immune system failure -- these are called AIDS-defining illnesses. According to the CDC, about 1.1 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with AIDS since the disease was first diagnosed in 1981. The CDC estimates that that 636,000 people have died from the disease in the U.S.

How Do People Get HIV?
A person gets HIV when an infected person's body fluids (blood, semen, fluids from the [|vagina] or breast milk) enter his or her bloodstream. The virus can enter the blood through linings in the mouth, anus, or sex organs (the [|penis] and vagina), or through broken [|skin]. Both men and women can spread HIV. A person with HIV can feel OK and still give the virus to others. [|Pregnant] women with HIV also can give the virus to their babies. [] (MARIA DEMAS)
 * //Common ways people get HIV://**
 * Sharing a needle to take [|drugs]
 * Having unprotected sex with an infected person
 * //You cannot get HIV from://**
 * Touching or hugging someone who has HIV/AIDS
 * Public bathrooms or swimming pools
 * Sharing cups, utensils, or telephones with someone who has HIV/AIDS
 * [|Bug bites]