Why Would Aids Not Stop In Africa Discourses Surrounding The Spread Of Aids In Africa

Case Study from the year 2009 in the subject Politics - Region: Africa, grade: A, University of Oslo (Oslo University College, Norway), course: M.Phil in Multicultural and International Education, Module 4, language: English, abstract: This paper explores the discourses in circulation in relation to HIV/AIDS in Africa and the reasons why the pandemic is still on the increase in certain parts of Africa. Finally, it discusses the impact of HIV/AIDS in the education sector on the continent, with a particular focus on South Africa. In the first part of this paper I have chosen to categorise the discourses in circulation in relation to HIV/AIDS into three. Although political, historical and other discourses abound, I shall limit myself to three others to be able to discuss them fully and develop convincing arguments. The three categories shall be: medical or scientific discourse, socio-economic discourse and traditional discourse. The terms “medical” or “scientific” would therefore be used interchangeably, as the case may be, to mean the same discourse. Under the medical discourse I shall elucidate on the name, nature, mode of transmission and prevention. The socio-economic discourse shall revolve around poverty and social pressure. The final category, which is the traditional discourse, shall embody discourses surrounding patriarchal authority and certain mythological ideas embedded in most African cultures, which underpin the spread of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. The second part, which is a further development of this paper, I shall demonstrate how lack of sufficient attention regarding the above discourses, as discussed in the first part, has contributed to worsening the already bad situation of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa, not mentioning its neighbour countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. In this second part of the paper I shall explore some other reasons encouraging the increase in the spread of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. These reasons shall include the issue of gender roles favouring hegemonic masculinity, rape and certain myths and misconceptions that appear difficult to eradicate from the cultural fabric of the South African society.

This report presents three hypothetical case studies for how the AIDS epidemic in Africa could evolve over the next 20 years based on policy decisions taken today by African leaders and the rest of the world; and considers the factors likely to drive the future responses of African countries and the international community. The scenarios draw on the age-old tradition of story-telling, rather than using data projections, to explore the wider context of the AIDS epidemic, reflecting the complexity of the subject matter.

An estimated forty million people carry the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and five million more become newly infected annually. In recent years, many HIV-infected patients in wealthy nations have enjoyed significantly longer, good-quality lives as a result of antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, most infected individuals live in the poorest regions of the world, where ART is virtually nonexistent. The consequent death toll in these regionsâ€"especially sub-Saharan Africaâ€"is begetting economic and social collapse. To inform the multiple efforts underway to deploy antiretroviral drugs in resource-poor settings, the Institute of Medicine committee was asked to conduct an independent review and assessment of rapid scale-up ART programs. It was also asked to identify the components of effective implementation programs. At the heart of the committee's report lie five imperatives: Immediately introduce and scale up ART programs in resource-poor settings. Devise strategies to ensure high levels of patient adherence to complicated treatment regimens. Rapidly address human-resource shortages to avoid the failure of program implementation. Continuously monitor and evaluate the programs to form the most effective guidelines and treatment regimens for each population. Prepare to sustain ART for decades.

Based on careful analysis of burden of disease and the costs ofinterventions, this second edition of 'Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd edition' highlights achievable priorities; measures progresstoward providing efficient, equitable care; promotes cost-effectiveinterventions to targeted populations; and encourages integrated effortsto optimize health. Nearly 500 experts - scientists, epidemiologists, health economists,academicians, and public health practitioners - from around the worldcontributed to the data sources and methodologies, and identifiedchallenges and priorities, resulting in this integrated, comprehensivereference volume on the state of health in developing countries.

This history of the African AIDS epidemic is a much-needed, accessibly written historical account of the most serious epidemiological catastrophe of modern times. The African AIDS Epidemic: A History answers President Thabo Mbeki’s provocative question as to why Africa has suffered this terrible epidemic. While Mbeki attributed the causes to poverty and exploitation, others have looked to distinctive sexual systems practiced in African cultures and communities. John Iliffe stresses historical sequence. He argues that Africa has had the worst epidemic because the disease was established in the general population before anyone knew the disease existed. HIV evolved with extraordinary speed and complexity, and because that evolution took place under the eyes of modern medical research scientists, Iliffe has been able to write a history of the virus itself that is probably unique among accounts of human epidemic diseases. In giving the African experience a historical shape, Iliffe has written one of the most important books of our time. The African experience of AIDS has taught the world much of what it knows about HIV/AIDS, and this fascinating book brings into focus many aspects of the epidemic in the longer context of massive demographic growth, urbanization, and social change in Africa during the latter half of the twentieth century. The African AIDS Epidemic: A History is a brilliant introduction to the many aspects of the epidemic and the distinctive character of the virus.

HIV/AIDS is a catastrophe globally but nowhere more so than in sub-Saharan Africa, which in 2008 accounted for 67 percent of cases worldwide and 91 percent of new infections. The Institute of Medicine recommends that the United States and African nations move toward a strategy of shared responsibility such that these nations are empowered to take ownership of their HIV/AIDS problem and work to solve it.

The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Religion and Social Justice brings together a team of distinguished scholars to provide a comprehensive and comparative account of social justice in the major religious traditions. The first publication to offer a comparative study of social justice for each of the major world religions, exploring viewpoints within Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism Offers a unique and enlightening volume for those studying religion and social justice - a crucially important subject within the history of religion, and a significant area of academic study in the field Brings together the beliefs of individual traditions in a comprehensive, explanatory, and informative style All essays are newly-commissioned and written by eminent scholars in the field Benefits from a distinctive four-part organization, with sections on major religions; religious movements and themes; indigenous people; and issues of social justice, from colonialism to civil rights, and AIDS through to environmental concerns