introduction

The world's least afflicted region, Australia and New Zealand are continuing and driving to completely finish the goals they resolved to accomplish. In 1994, the Australian government set an agenda to significantly reduce the number of AIDS related deaths and even prevalence of the virus itself, through strong promulgation of support for antiretroviral therapy, consisting specifically, of protease inhibiters. The success of the program is revealed in a mere, yet telling statistic: the number of AIDS cases in the year 2000, 255 cases, has been decreased to less than one hundred in the whole region. Granted that this relatively minute number is in large part due to the relatively small population residing in the region, the endeavors and successes of the program must still be honored. Generally, the epidemic is not as damaging in Australia and New Zealand as in other regions of the globe. However, the rural outlying states of Australia contain the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Reports suggest that this is due to the fact that those living in these regions are quite isolated and not as aware of the urban and even suburban programs initiated by the national government. Until this awareness problem is remedied, no efforts can be effectively begin. In addition to this, the lack of affordable ARV drugs at affordable prices for those living in these region are causing a problem of how to treat the situation. The government cannot continue to pour money into this without some sort of international monetary aid, or even technological support. Unless this sector of the people is cared for, Australian AIDS efforts can never rest, and can the region as a whole can never fully prosper.

analysis:introduction

global | australia and new zealand | caribbean | east asia and pacific | e.europe and central asia | latin america | middle east and north africa | north america | south and south east asia | sub-saharan africa |
western europe