AIDS in Africa

AIDS is a global pandemic but AIDS in Africa has always been a more popular topic that the masses like to argue about. Why? Because according to the article, “95 percent of infections are in developing countries; and more than 70 percent re in sub-Saharan Africa where 80 percent of the deaths have occurred.” Apparently, having unprotected sex with anyone here would generate a higher percentage for one to be infected with HIV than sleeping around in Africa. Only one would stand a higher survival chance than those living in poverty stricken Africa. This is an example that clearly points out the correlation between the standard of living and survival rate, AIDS or no AIDS. I totally agree to where the author is leading to. Before the articles, we were asked “Do efforts to educate people about public health issues depend on the assumption that individuals have the freedom to choose their behavior and to change their environment?” My answer to the question is YES, definitely! In Africa where most people have their lives hanging by a thin thread, struggling to feed themselves and find refuge from the ever continuing unstable political situation, there isn’t much free time left for them to worry about getting infected with AIDS or not. Same goes to any other diseases. Even if they do worry, with poor sanitation and limited health care, there aren’t many options they can turn to. I like what the author said about ‘removing the obstacles to self determination is the task to be accomplished’. To solve this problem, I believe that rather than donating millions of dollars each year to get them food and medication, creating a fair trade for these nations and giving them the opportunity to build lives for themselves would be a better bet because like they always say, prevention is better than cure and I couldn’t agree more.