The Health Crisis in Developing + Developed Countries

 A pandemic is an epidemic (usually a disease) that occurs over a great area of land - worldwide.  The virus that we know as HIV/AIDS is thought to have spread from chimpanzees to human in west equatorial Africa in the 1930’s.

 Test were being developed for a polio vaccine and blood from chimps - who were unknowingly diseased with a strain of HIV/AIDS – was taken to created the vaccine.  Some assert that the African people became test subjects and the infected vaccine entered the human population.

 Others state that infected chimp meat was eaten and the disease spread that way into the human population.  In the 1980s, HIV/AIDS was detected in the LGBT community attacking mostly gay men = but not a disease the discriminates; it affects everyone  HIV/AIDS is now a deadly human disease.

 The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).  HIV attacks the immune system, resulting in a chronic, progressive illness and leaving infected people vulnerable to opportunistic infections and cancers.

 The median time from infection to AIDS diagnosis now exceeds 10 years.  AIDS is fatal.  There is no known cure.

 Unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral).  Shared needles or equipment for injecting drugs.  Unsterilized needles for tattooing, skin piercing or acupuncture.

 Pregnancy, delivery and breast feeding (from an HIV-infected mother to her infant)  Occupational exposure in health care settings.  Transmission through blood.

 Casual, everyday contact  Shaking hands, hugging, kissing  Coughs, sneezes  Giving blood  Swimming pools, toilet seats  Sharing eating utensils, water fountains  Mosquitoes, other insects, or animals

 Even with the most expensive and effective treatments/anti-viral drugs, death is a certainty.  34+ million people in the world are affected.

 16,000 people every day become infected world wide.  7, 000 die of Aids each day = 2 million per year.  Of the 14 million who have died of AIDS, 11 million have been Africans.

 Number of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa: ▪ Estimated at 1.9 million for ▪ About 67 per cent of the world total.

 Number of children living with HIV in 2010: ▪ 3.4+ million. ▪ 90 per cent of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa.

 Throughout the developing nations, AIDS has exploded mainly because of: ▪ The problems associated with educating people about prevention.

 Get educated + ask questions.  Abstain from sex or delay first sex.  Be faithful to one partner or have fewer partners.  Use male condoms or female condoms consistently and correctly.  Use a needle exchange/clean needles of injecting drugs + do not share needles.  Take anti-viral drugs during pregnancy + have a Caesarean section.

 Condoms in the Congo (4:17 mins)  elling_condoms_in_the_congo.html elling_condoms_in_the_congo.html

 The following countries have been experiencing an increase in the cases of AIDS/HIV: ▪ China ▪ India ▪ Eastern European Countries (i.e. Russia, Ukraine)

 There are 1.3 million people living with AIDS/HIV in North America.  Number of new infections in North America: ▪ Estimated at 58,000 in 2010, while deaths from AIDS in the same region totaled 20,000.

 International support is required.  Canada is one of the leaders in the establishment of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS.  HIV/AIDS drugs have dropped over 75% in price, yet remain too costly for many people in developing countries.

People in developed world should be worried about health conditions in developing world because: We are a global village. Everyone deserves a good life. Diseases can spread and affect developed countries.

 An estimated 60,000+ people have HIV/AIDS.  Every two hours, someone in the country becomes infected with HIV.  Over 27 per cent of infected people don't know they have HIV.

 Women now account for one-fifth of people with HIV/AIDS.  The HIV-positive population continues to increase in Canada, with the greatest increases amongst Aboriginal Canadians.

 AIDS-related stigma and discrimination refers to prejudice, negative attitudes, abuse and maltreatment directed at people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide.

 The consequences of stigma and discrimination are wide-ranging: being shunned by family, peers and the wider community, poor treatment in healthcare and education settings, an erosion of rights, psychological damage, and a negative effect on the success of HIV testing and treatment.

 (4:47 mins)  (info only)

 A Great Film:  A Closer Walk

 =2&ob=1 =2&ob=1   7Upo 7Upo

1. Why does HIV/AIDS continue to spread around the world? 2. How can we stop HIV from spreading? 3. What countries are most affected by HIV/AIDS? Why? 4. Why is there a stigma around HIV/AIDS? How can we stop the stigma?