AIDS IN THE THIRD WORLD

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the fourth biggest killer after respiratory infections, diarrheal disorders and tuberculosis in the world and there is a virus which is called HIV (human immune-deficiency virus) which causes AIDS. This virus alters the immune system so effectively  that people can be more vulnerable to infections and diseases than a healthy person. According to some research, the HIV virus spread from chimpanzees to humans in the late 1940’s or early 1950’s in Congo. As soon as the virus began to spread rapidly to the east and southern Africa, these places became the worst-hit areas and many people were afflicted with HIV or AIDS. After the continent of Africa, the disease started to be seen all around the world after which it became a huge problem and a global disaster. Dealing with the problem of AIDS involves both certain measures to be taken to prevent the spread of the disease and treatment options.

In the case of AIDS, prevention is as important, if not more important, than cure. For example, people, who live in rich and developed countries, are not suffering from AIDS to the extent that people in third world countries are; it is not a deadly word for them anymore because they can buy expensive drugs and be treated in the best health centers. In contrast, in developing countries, millions of people are dying because of the inadequate health facilities, lack of public awareness and education. Therefore, to reduce deaths, governments should raise awareness about the importance of AIDS and give information about disease prevention via the mass media and governmental or non-governmental organizations. Well-respected public figures can be used in the mass media and they can play in advertising campaigns enlightening the public and encouraging the use of condoms.

Providing treatment or at least palliative care is also vital. Governments and pharmaceutical companies should collaborate with each other to help developing countries and they should provide antiretroviral drugs inexpensively for poor people. Private AIDS clinics should be set up by the Ministry of Health for people who are ashamed of carrying the HIV virus and these clinics should use ID storage to get in contact with people who cannot share information about their disease due to the fear of exclusion. AIDS patients may feel lonely and excluded because many people have taboos about the HIV virus whether they carry it or not. Governments should break down taboos via the mass media by using informative commercials and also they should create a budget for people who cannot afford to pay the treatment costs.

Many things can be done and many solutions can be produced to minimize the spread of the disease all around the world. For an optimal result, every government department should deal with the problem seriously and implement its own plan to attain the best results. They should educate people about risky sex and set up a national AIDS- control programme. The public and the government should cooperate with each other to curb the spread of the disease. AIDS is a huge global problem and has a great impact on society but it can be overcome with education, moral and material assistance.