The Ongoing Fight Against the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

The HIV/AIDS epidemic poses a major concern for global health. There are approximately 36.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide (WHO, 2017). Due to the increased phenomenon of global migration and movement we see a proportion of individuals who are HIV positive migrating. In Canada alone, over 300,000 new immigrants were welcomed into the country in 2016 (CIC; Globe And Mail, 2016). As a result we can infer that certain proportion out of all immigration applicants into Canada were HIV positive, therefore this paper seeks to question if it is easier or more difficult to be accepted as a immigrant into Canada if you are HIV positive? In addition, under what circumstances are individuals who are HIV positive admissible into Canada,

Currently, there are 1.3 million people are living with HIV in the United States of America, with a fifth unaware of their status. Since the epidemic began, an estimated 1,155,792 people in the USA have been diagnosed with AIDS. In 2011 there were an estimated 23.5 million people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. 1 This has increased since 2009, when an estimated 22.5 million people were living with HIV, including 2.3 million children. It is estimated that among 18 reporting countries in the Latin American region there were approximately 1.4 million people living with HIV and AIDS at the end of 2011. Of these, an estimated 83,000 were newly infected during 2011 and an estimated 60,000 people died of AIDS. Although much of India has a low rate of infection, certain places have been more affected than others. HIV epidemics are more severe in the southern half of the country and the far northeast. The highest estimated adult

The existing literature on Global Health suggests that amid the spread of globalization, improvements in human health have been made over the last fifty years, but the disappearance of transnational borders has also created health risks at the international level. Research on the topic of global health indicates that real world occurrences have provoked the perceived need for cooperation in the international health sector (Skolnik 2012, pg. 336-342). Disease are not confined by state boundaries and this has led to several health issues that paradigmatically shifted international health into global health. One of the most noted events that brought attention to global health includes the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This pandemic illustrates one of the most significant challenges facing global health today-- the spread of infectious diseases caused by global factors. The movement of goods and services, and the growth of international trade have increased human mobility, thus mobilizing disease and infections as well. Current research analyzes how international trade, economic development, cultural exchanges, and human movement and travel have contributed to the prevention and control of infectious disease such as HIV, malaria, SARS, etc. (Knobler, Mahmoud 2006). The disparities between public health in developed and undeveloped nations has not been explored fully in the discipline of Global Health. By exploring historical trends of global health, this paper will attempt to theorize how

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which with time will lead to AIDS. AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV/AIDS is the most destructive health crisis of modern times. (“How HIV and AIDS Affect Populations”) This virus came from chimpanzees who had SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus), which was transmitted to humans and mutated into HIV. (“What is HIV/AIDS?”) HIV enters the bloodstream through mucous membranes. HIV can enter through the lining of the rectum, walls of the vagina, and the urethra, which is the passageway to the penis. HIV can also enter through the nose, mouth, and throat. (“Having HIV-AIDS is Like a Death Sentence”)

The HIV and AIDS disease is a major worldwide ongoing health epidemic. Which affects millions of people of all ages each year. HIV or the Human Immunodifency Virus has been speculated to have come from chimpanzees due to the similarities of the SIV virus found in the animal. SIV or the Simian Immunodeficiency virus is a virus that attacks the immune system of monkeys and apes. While HIV attacks the immune system of humans. The region of origin of the virus is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is where chimpanzees were being hunted and eaten by the people living in the area (HIV…). After thorough research of the connection between SIV and HIV, it has been confirmed that a strain of the SIV in a chimpanzee is almost identical to

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 is a virus that affects the immune system by destroying the white blood cells. After living with HIV and not treating it, it can completely ruin the immune systems and then becomes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. The virus is spread through the contact of bodily fluids, which means it can be contract in a variety of different ways. Some of the most common ways are sexual contact, sharing needles, or blood transfusions. This virus carries a heavy burden in Africa because it “originated in central Africa” (Pepin, 6). Also, due to the culture and beliefs of the African people, HIV/AIDS spread rapidly in Africa. There were a plethora of contributions to the AIDS epidemic, sex

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) spread quickly across the continent of Africa unfortunately taking many lives and creating a burden on the countries affected. In 2011 South Africa was declared the highest population living with the virus (reference). With a growing number of individuals affected by the virus the South African government found an increased need for health care services. However, many nurses and health care providers became ill or had died from the virus, thus creating a need for the government to develop a home-based care policy (reference).

The HIV virus is very epidemiological in nature. (“HIV/AIDS” 6) The virus is not commonly found in small quantities, it usually ravishes through different countries because it is so infectious and devastating to the affected patients. The epidemic in South Africa is generalized, affecting the common population not just certain high risk groups, and driven largely by sexual transmission. There are large differences

HIV/AIDS has no cure, it is contagious, it is deadly. In Africa millions of citizens are dying every day (HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. 2015). Seven out every ten-people died in 2008 from HIV/AIDS (HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. (2015, May 01). Over two-thirds of Adults in Sub-Saharan are living with HIV. The key affected populations in sub-Saharn Africa are young females, children, sex workers, and many others (HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. (2015, May 01). These populations often do not have the recourses to be able to afford any type of medications. There are advocates to help African regions such as UNAIDS, AVAC and many other organizations. As far the help from government

Although the first wave of HIV infections occurred in 1988 amongst injecting drug users, it was during 1989 – 1990 that prompted the “awakening of HIV/AIDS.” The National Advisory Committee on AIDS developed a surveillance of sentinel groups, which included sex workers, male patients with sexually transmitted infections, and blood donors. This surveillance revealed the HIV virus being transmitted rapidly through sex. From 1989-1990, the prevalence of direct sex workers infected with the virus tripled from 3.5% to 9.3%. One year later, this prevalence increased to 21.6%. During the same period, the proportion of male conscripts, aged 21, infected with HIV during testing for entry to the army rose six fold from 0.5% in 1989 to 3% in 1991. This increase was associated with the growing popularity of visiting sex establishments among young men.

By the 1990s, the epidemic of HIV and AIDS was sweeping across Africa and other underdeveloped countries. By this period, the virus has taken hundreds of thousands of lives of adults and also small children. By the year of 1994, approximately for a decade

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, is primarily a sexually transmitted infection. It can also be spread by contact with infected blood, most commonly IV drug users, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. When HIV weakens the immune system HIV develops into AIDS. The start of HIV was said to come from a strain of DNA from Chimpanzee’s to contain polio. HIV/AIDS has become a widely spread virus that affects the human immune system. Africa has had the greatest number of infected persons, both adults and children than any other continent.

The African continent represents 12% of the worlds population, but Sub-Saharan Africa disproportionately represents nearly 70% of the worlds HIV cases (1). Within that, it has been estimated that there are 6.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa, which is the highest number from any country in the world (2), and represents 17% of the global burden of HIV infection (3).

In today’s world, it often seems like there are more issues to tackle than people have the capacity to handle. There is the global warming, poverty, hunger, wars, political conflicts, refugee conflicts, etcetera. Though all of these can seem daunting and hard to combat, none of them can be accomplished if the world’s population is not healthy. If people do not have the physical strength to think of new and innovative ways to take on these issues, then no progress will be made on any of them. As a result, global health should be prioritized as the most pressing issue the world is facing today. Until people are healthy, they cannot be educated, hope to reduce poverty, or do anything. One factor of global health that needs to be paid more attention is HIV/AIDS because though it is incurable, it can be prevented from killing millions.