In this region, there are both high levels of HIV infections, and high levels of AIDS fatalities. The epidemics here are critical.
- 3.2 million people were infected by the virus in 2003
- 26.6 million people have HIV total
- 2.3 million people died due to aids in 2003
Other facts:
- “Unlike women in other regions in the world, African women are considerably more likely—at least 1.2 times—to be infected with HIV than men.”
- In southern Africa, a two in ten women have HIV/AIDS.
- For a region that has 2% of the world's population, Sub-Saharan Africa has 30% of the HIV/AIDS population worldwide!
In this part of the world, the main cause for HIV infection is unprotected heterosexual contact with multiple partners. There is also a great stigma, and resentment among people in this region towards those infected with the HIV virus. Sometimes, as many as one in three people have the virus, but even on their death certificates, the fact that they died of AIDS is usually omitted, or if it is there, the certificate is destroyed. Above all, the leaders of the country act as if all is well, and this is simply a little bout of the common cold.
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFORMATION, CLICK THE LINK BELOW!
http://www.time.com/time/2001/aidsinafrica/cover2.html
THE HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC IS A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM, THEREFORE A WORLDWIDE RESPONSE IS REQUIRED. TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP, CLICK HERE! |
NOTES:
* This mark indicates that this chart came directly from the UNAIDS (2003) AIDS epidemic update, December Report, the report can be accessed from the second link below, once you have reached the UNAIDS website, click the first link in the column on the right hand side
“” If quotes and italics are used this indicates a direct quote from the UNAIDS report mentioned above.
Resources:
- Kanabus, Annabel. 14 Feb 2004. AVERT. 14 Feb 2004. < http://www.avert.org/ >.
- McGeary, Johanna. "." 12 Feb 2001. Time Magazine Archive. 14 Feb 2004 < http://www.time.com/ >.
- UNAIDS: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. 14 Feb 2004. < http://www.unaids.org/ >.