HIV Disease Epidemic
A large driving force for just about every species, whether plan, animal, bacteria or virus is the urge of procreation. Although there is some controversy as to what controls this (nurture vs nature), one thing that cannot be disputed is how strong the urge is.
A little education first
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, it is a Retrovirus, meaning that once it gets into a cell, it is able to use hijack that cells function to replicate itself. HIV is spread through the exchange of fluids; it doesn’t matter if it’s from mother to child or unprotected sex or a dirty needle, you still get it to the same degree. Infection can take years to develop into AIDS. AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, and you have it when your CD4 count is below 200/ml. Most often this is the first time somebody finds out that they even had HIV in the first place and this is when infections begin to take advantage of you now depressed immune system.
HIV and AIDS do not kill, it is the byproduct of their function in the body that leads to infections which leads to death. After a lot of research into HIV leading to AIDS, it is now considered a disease and not a syndrome. Although people still refer to it as AIDS, it is now properly called HIV Disease, which encompasses everything from initial infection to deterioration of the immune system. There is NO cure for HIV Disease nor is there a proven vaccine, although many are showing some promise.
Abstinence and fidelity is not enough!
I read an article today at how 23% of the 15 billon US the Bush administration has put towards the fight against HIV Disease in Africa has gone to religious groups that promote fidelity and abstinence over condom use”. We all know how bad the track record on prohibition is (drugs, alcohol etc), try advocating sexual prohibition to a young population anywhere in the world.
Religion in my opinion has NO role in dictating health policy nor providing health care. I believe religion does have a role to play in Africa (and the world), don’t misunderstand me, the hope and direction they give to people who have neither is a valuable commodity when you are surrounded by poverty, joblessness, epidemics and desperation. But how would you like to given biased information that may cost you your life or unable to receive medical treatments because somebody else doesn’t think it’s a moral?
Even the Vatican I find is becoming a very irrelevant institution in this regard. It could play a huge role in slowing the spread of HIV Disease in Africa (and the world). Yet, instead of providing leading education into HIV Disease from spreading, they simply tell people birth control (including condoms) are evil and to not have sex before marriage. That won’t cut it in Botswana where a third of the population is infected with HIV Disease!
A little history
Throughout most of recent history, African has been pillaged by European colonists and used as a boxing ring during too many wars by other countries. From slavery to propped up dictatorships, Africa has seen far more of its fare share of misery. It was not always this way, Africa was once a very powerful continent but the culture, languages and resources of the people have been mismanaged for centuries. Colonists simply packed their bags when they no longer had a use for a nation and left them to fend for themselves. Not all of Africa has had this fate, but large swaths have yet to recover from it.
HIV Disease in Africa - why should I care?
Sure, I am a Canadian - why should I care about what is going on in Africa? They are on the other side of the planet!
Other then compassion for a fellow human, the fact is we do not live on an island, it now takes less then 24 hours to travel from any one point in the world to another. Because HIV Disease compromises the immune system, it becomes a fantastic breading ground for other viruses, pathogens and diseases to mutate. Why is this bad? Retroviruses love to take over cells to reproduce themselves, there is always a chance that one retrovirus will combine with another to form a new or more virulent disease. For instance, HIV Disease already has two confirmed strains HIV-1 & HIV-2 with an unconfirmed HIV-3. HIV Disease is also a global disease, although Africa is the main battle ground (yet again), there are people with HIV Disease in every country, state and province. You may have even come into contact with an infected person without even knowing it.
When an entire population looses its fear of death or hope in life, they become a very destabilizing force in this world. Also, your entire livelihood could be affected at any time, viruses don’t care who you are, your net worth nor who you know. Nobody is immune to natures creativity.
The Bottom Line
Prohibition is not a cure nor solution, unbiased education is at least heading in the right direction.
Links of interest:
Alternative to adoption bleak for African orphans
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/10/16/koinange.adoption/index.html
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