An Ambitious Treatment For The Aids Epidemic

Since its identification approximately two decades ago, HIV has increasingly spread globally, surpassing expectations (1). The number of people living with HIV worldwide is estimated to be 36 million, with 20 million people having died from the disease, giving a total number of 56 million being infected (1). In 2000 alone, 5.3 million people were infected with HIV and there is potential for further spread. HIV infection rates vary all over the world with the highest rates in Sub-Saharan Africa (1). Responding to this epidemic has been a challenge as infection rates have increased worldwide despite tremendous public health efforts by nations (1). The identification of potential interventions to reduce the magnitude of the problem has

The AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, consisted entirely of deaths, illnesses and most of all fear, changing the way society viewed gay men. Being that it was only happening to homosexuals and everyone became super homophobic and believed that the disease was a cause of being gay until it started happening to women too. This affected the entire medical metaphysics in society on what is considered safe methods of having sex and health precautions as well. Before the 1980s hit HIV was thought to originate form Kinshasa which is in Congo. In the 1920 HIV crossed between chimpanzees to humans on the Democratic Republic of humans.(Avert 1). AIDS is caused by HIV and is the last stage of HIV and can lead to death. It attacks every single

Many Americans embraced a new conservatism in social, economic and political life during the 1980s, characterized by the policies of President Ronald Reagan who took office in 1981. Often remembered for its materialism and consumerism, the decade also saw the rise of the “yuppie,” an explosion of blockbuster movies and the emergence of cable networks like MTV, which introduced the music video and launched the careers of many iconic artists, this lead to a rise in drug abuse, crime aggravated by illegal drugs while overcrowding America 's prisons and the pandemic of HIV/AIDS bowled its way into the American mainstream. During this time Reagan would also implement policies to reduce the federal government’s reach into the daily lives and pocketbooks of Americans, including tax cuts intended to spur growth (known as Reaganomics). He also advocated for increases in military spending, reductions in certain social programs and measures to deregulate business. There were several controversial federal policies such as the Affirmative Action Policy some called it "reverse discrimination", sought to inject racial and gender equality into many aspects of American life, especially college enrollment and workplace hiring practices.

Although HIV is no longer the automatic death sentence it was in the 80’s, it remains a thorn even in our modern societies. For instance, HIV treatment is exponentially expensive, and can only be afforded by residents in developed countries. In fact, most third world nations are still in the 80’s as far as HIV treatment technology is concerned. Fatality rates particularly in Africa are astronomical to say the least (Rensburg 267). With prices, for

For example, according to Kaiser Family Foundation, (2014), the target of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is to end the epidemic by 2030 and have 90% of the population know their HIV status and be treated to decrease the viral load. Additionally, the United States has provided funding through various initiatives such as the Leadership and Investment in Fighting an Epidemic (LIFE) in 1999 (which helped 14 countries in Africa), International Mother and Child HIV Prevention Initiative (2002), PEPFAR in 2003, which authorized approximately $15 billion and reauthorized for an additional 5 years in 2008 for up to $48 billion (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014). So far, global efforts have contributed to a significant decline (by 13.6 million) in AIDS-related death, stabilization of the epidemic, and access to treatment (ART; Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014). However, there are still many countries with only 20% receiving the treatment they

Although ninety-five percent of people living with HIV/AIDS are in developing countries, the impact of this epidemic is global. In South Africa, where one in four adults are living with the disease, HIV/AIDS means almost certain death for those infected. In developed countries however, the introduction of antiretroviral drugs has meant HIV/AIDS is treated as a chronic condition rather than a killer disease. In developing countries like South Africa, the drugs that allow people to live with the disease elsewhere in the world, are simply too expensive for individuals and governments to afford at market price.

Just as clearly, experience shows that the right approaches, applied quickly enough with courage and resolve, can and do result in lower HIV infection rates and less suffering for those affected by the epidemic. An ever-growing AIDS epidemic is not inevitable; yet, unless action against the epidemic is scaled up drastically, the damage already done will seem minor compared with what lies ahead. This may sound dramatic, but it is hard to play down the effects of a disease that stands to kill more than half of the young adults in the countries where it has its firmest hold—most of them before they finish the work of caring for their children or providing for their elderly parents. Already, 18.8 million people around the world have died of AIDS, 3.8 million of them children. Nearly twice that many—34.3 million—are now living with HIV, the virus [9].

HIV is a relevant topic because unmanageable financial and coordination burdens have been forced upon the health systems (Beaubien). Some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have seen success in curbing the rate of AIDS previously. Uganda had a 26% rate of HIV/AIDS infection in 1986, and in 1987, Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni introduced a five-year government-led plan to reduce the rate (AVERT). The plan was defined by an approach to

“Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a blood-borne virus typically transmitted via sexual intercourse, shared intravenous drug paraphernalia, and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), which can occur during the birth processor during breastfeeding.” There is no cure for HIV or AIDS but over time different types of medications have been developed that slows down the advancement of the disease. AIDS is a lethal disease that is caused by HIV. HIV destroys the immune system and causes the body to not be able to fight off any diseases.

The HIV Pandemic: The ongoing Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pandemic has and continues to devastate many individuals across the globe, leaving children orphaned, families fractured, and local economies disrupted. The first known and confirmed case of HIV infection dates back to 1959 [1], however AIDS-related pathologies were not recognized as interrelated outcomes from the same disease until 1981 when clusters of young, homosexual men in New York City and Los Angeles began presenting with Pneumocystis pneumonia and Kaposi’s sarcoma [2,3], illnesses most often associated with compromised immunity. The causative agent of this immunodeficiency, initially known as Human T-Lymphotropic Virus, type III, now known as HIV, was first discovered in 1983 by French and American scientists [4,5]. Since this discovery, an estimated 39 million people have died from HIV/AIDS, and over 35 million people are living with HIV today with an estimated 2.1 million new infections believed to occur each year based on the most recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) [6]. Sub-Saharan Africa represents the most heavily burdened region with women disproportionately affected; accounting for 58% of HIV infected individuals. Furthermore, young women, aged 15-24 from this area represented 60% of all newly infected individuals in 2013 [7]. Young women therefore represent a unique group at high risk for acquiring HIV, and reasons for this increased susceptibility require further

HIV/AIDS is still a current public health concern for all countries of the world. Research has helped progress the education and treatment of the virus, but some areas of the world still have difficulty with this public health concern. Out of all developing countries, South Africa has one of the highest percentages of their population living with HIV/AIDS while Cuba has one of the lowest percentages of their population living with the virus. In this paper, the public health policies of South Africa and Cuba regarding treatment, prevention and transmission will be discussed and compared.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a major public health challenge worldwide (Sepkowitz, 2001). HIV is a microscopic organism that attacks and destroys the immune system (Carter and Hughson, 2014). This has caused 35 million people to be diagnosed with the disease and an estimated 39 million people dying from HIV related causes since the beginning of the epidemic (World Health Organisation (WHO), 2016). The United Kingdom (UK) experienced a five percent rise in HIV diagnosis from 2012-2013 resulting in 107,800 patients being diagnosed with HIV (Public Health England (2014). This figure has led the UK to having one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in Europe (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2013). HIV still remains incurable with no effective vaccines in place, nonetheless measures have been put in place to curb its transmission (Munier et al, 2011). The introduction of antiretroviral therapy has triggered a decrease in replication of HIV in the infected host (Connor, et al., 1994).

One of the most prevalent diseases facing the world today is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV and AIDS became widely known on June 5th, 1981 when the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the first instance of this virus. Contrary to popular belief, being HIV positive is not a death sentence. Modern drugs make it possible for people who are HIV positive to be very healthy and live for years without developing AIDS. Also, those who have AIDS can continue to live for many years and be just as healthy as their non-HIV positive peers. Those carrying this virus can live practically normal lives; working, pursuing higher education, having a social life and romantic

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV as it is commonly known was first seen in the United States about thirty years ago before it generated the world 's attention. Since then thousands of American have lost their lives to AIDS and millions more have become infected. As a health organization, GA Carmichael has a growing population of patients infected with HIV. As the

HIV antibody tests were first issued by the World Health Organization in 1992 (WHO, 1997), since then with frequent update of recommendation, and advancement in innovation (Rotheram-Borus et al., 2000) HIV testing and counselling continue to be the gateway to HIV prevention, essential treatment and care (Fonner et al., 2012, WHO, 2012b). Knowing one’s HIV status used to be considered as a death sentence. However, after having the right treatment peoples’ view changed into considering the status as a chronic condition (Bedingfield et al., 2014). Thus the development of life-saving drugs for HIV/AIDS patients markedly shifted policies to encourage uptake of HIV testing(WHO, 2012b). In spite of that, WHO/UNAIDS in 2014 reported that, globally not more than half (49%-58%) of people living with HIV know their serostatus (WHO, 2015b, UNAIDS, 2014b). To address this gap, in 2014 a new global 90-90-90 target introduced in called to reach at least 90% of all people living with the virus to know their HIV status; 90% of all those diagnosed with HIV infection to receive sustain antiretroviral therapy; and 90% of all those initiated the treatment to have viral suppression by the year 2020 (UNAIDS, 2014a).