introduction

Despite its worldwide appreciation as the most technologically and socially advanced region, North America, and specifically the United States, is being crippled by the devastating effects of HIV. According to UNAIDS, there were between 790,000 and 1,2 million adults and children living with HIV/AIDS in the United States and Canada. This obviously, is an alarming statistic in that it reveals how the virus transcends all boundaries, and affects all types of people. The United States current situation in this matter though, is a far different quandary than experienced elsewhere. The U.S, replete with the most stunning and prolific economy the world can boast possesses a strong and relatively affluent middle class and a very prosperous upper class. These people can easily afford the cost of antiretroviral drugs that have the possibility of saving lives. The problem is that because of the background the majority of these live and grow in, their sexual awareness and overall AIDS education is substantially more thorough, and they contract the virus in very minute quantities. UNAIDS statistics of the approximately 40,000 new infections each year in the region, a substantial number derives from those living in economic demise or with little access to government programs and initiatives. These people living in poverty lack basic knowledge regarding safe sex, the harmful effects of intravenous drug usage, and HIV and thus, their fate is expected among the bureaucracy. The problem this region will face is how to target and aid that specific economic minority's struggle with the worldwide epidemic without hurting the pharmaceutical industry so vital and crucial to both countries' economic prosperity and vitality.

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