HIV/AIDS Pandemic

The Health Crisis in Developing + Developed Countries

The Pandemic

A pandemic is an epidemic (usually a disease) that occurs over a great area of land - worldwide.

The virus that we know as HIV/AIDS is thought to have spread from chimpanzees to human in west equatorial Africa in the 1930’s.

The Pandemic

Test were being developed for a polio vaccine and blood from chimps - who were unknowingly diseased with a strain of HIV/AIDS – was taken to created the vaccine.

Some assert that the African people became test subjects and the infected vaccine entered the human population.

The Pandemic

Others state that infected chimp meat was eaten and the disease spread that way into the human population.

In the 1980s, HIV/AIDS was detected in the LGBT community attacking mostly gay men = but not a disease the discriminates; it affects everyone

HIV/AIDS is now a deadly human disease.

HIV and AIDS

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

HIV attacks the immune system, resulting in a chronic, progressive illness and leaving infected people vulnerable to opportunistic infections and cancers.

HIV and AIDS

The median time from infection to AIDS diagnosis now exceeds 10 years.

AIDS is fatal.

There is no known cure.

Transmission

Unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral).

Shared needles or equipment for injecting drugs.

Unsterilized needles for tattooing, skin piercing or acupuncture.

Transmission

Pregnancy, delivery and breast feeding (from an HIV-infected mother to her infant)

Occupational exposure in health care settings.

Transmission through blood.

AIDS cannot be transmitted through:

Casual, everyday contact

Shaking hands, hugging, kissing

Coughs, sneezes

Giving blood

Swimming pools, toilet seats

Sharing eating utensils, water fountains

Mosquitoes, other insects, or animals

Death is a Certainty

Even with the most expensive and effective treatments/anti-viral drugs, death is a certainty.

34+ million people in the world are affected.

Death is a Certainty, especially in Africa

16,000 people every day become infected world wide.

7, 000 die of Aids each day = 2 million per year.

Of the 14 million who have died of AIDS, 11 million have been Africans.

Africa + AIDS/HIV

Number of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa:

▪ Estimated at 1.9 million for 2010.▪ About 67 per cent of the world total.

Africa + AIDS/HIV

Number of children living with HIV in 2010:

▪ 3.4+ million.▪ 90 per cent of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Developing Nations+ AIDS/HIV

Throughout the developing nations, AIDS has exploded mainly because of:

▪ The problems associated with educating people about prevention.

Prevention+ AIDS/HIV

Get educated + ask questions.

Abstain from sex or delay first sex.

Be faithful to one partner or have fewer partners.

Use male condoms or female condoms consistently and correctly.

Use a needle exchange/clean needles of injecting drugs + do not share needles.

Take anti-viral drugs during pregnancy + have a Caesarean section.

Prevention+ AIDS/HIV

Condoms in the Congo (4:17 mins)

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/amy_lockwood_selling_condoms_in_the_congo.html

AIDS/HIV: Increases

The following countries have been experiencing an increase in the cases of AIDS/HIV:

▪ China▪ India ▪ Eastern European Countries (i.e.

Russia, Ukraine)

North America + AIDS/HIV

There are 1.3 million people living with AIDS/HIV in North America.

Number of new infections in North America:

▪ Estimated at 58,000 in 2010, while deaths from AIDS in the same region totaled 20,000.

International Support Required

International support is required.

Canada is one of the leaders in the establishment of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS drugs have dropped over 75% in price, yet remain too costly for many people in developing countries.

International Support Required

• People in developed world should be worried about health conditions in developing world because:

• We are a global village.

• Everyone deserves a good life.

• Diseases can spread and affect developed countries.

People living with HIV AIDS (2010)

AIDS in Canada

An estimated 60,000+ people have HIV/AIDS.

Every two hours, someone in the country becomes infected with HIV.

Over 27 per cent of infected people don't know they have HIV.

AIDS in Canada

Women now account for one-fifth of people with HIV/AIDS.

The HIV-positive population continues to increase in Canada, with the greatest increases amongst Aboriginal Canadians.

The Stigma of AIDS/HIV

AIDS-related stigma and discrimination refers to prejudice, negative attitudes, abuse and maltreatment directed at people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide.

The Stigma of AIDS/HIV

The consequences of stigma and discrimination are wide-ranging: being shunned by family, peers and the wider community, poor treatment in healthcare and education settings, an erosion of rights, psychological damage, and a negative effect on the success of HIV testing and treatment.

Stigma

http://bbc.in/uGpJNW (4:47 mins)

http://www.aidsvideos.org/ (info only)

Film: A Closer Walk

A Great Film:

A Closer Walk

Join Red/Think Red

http://www.youtube.com/user/joinred?blend=2&ob=1

http://www.joinred.com/red/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dudnUQc7Upo

Discussion Questions

1. Why does HIV/AIDS continue to spread around the world?

2. How can we stop HIV from spreading?

3. What countries are most affected by HIV/AIDS? Why?

4. Why is there a stigma around HIV/AIDS? How can we stop the stigma?