Hiv Aids In Sub Saharan Africa example essay topic

Jarrod Stafford Government 9 a.m. Forming Public Policy on AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa Strengths of Current Policyo 15 billion dollars of aid over 5 years o Bring African AIDS epidemic to forefront o Dispersing resources quickly Using new approaches and leadership model Employing evidence-based decision so Demanding accountability for results Weaknesses of Current Policyo Not attacking root causes of problem Waited many years to act effectivelyOpportunitieso Drug testing o Drug market Showing long term good will around world Increase influence in government and economy. o Case study for HIV / AIDS Threat so Increase spread of HIV / AIDS throughout world Compound economic and societal problems such as starvation, lack of education, and poverty o Reduce the ability of the government to handle the rising social structure dilemmas and healthcare costs o Exacerbate regional and ethnic tension so Further strain on economy Discourage foreign investment and tourism The HIV / AIDS epidemic is a horrific plight affecting every country in the world. HIV stands for 'human immunodeficiency virus'. HIV is a retrovirus that infects cells of the human immune system and destroys or impairs their function. AIDS stands for 'acquired immunodeficiency syndrome' and describes the collection of symptoms and infections associated with acquired deficiency of the immune system.

At the end of 2004, 39.4 million people worldwide were estimated to be infected. No other area has been hit harder than the Sub-Sahara Africa region. Sub-Saharan Africa has just over 10% of the world's population, but is home to more than 60% of all people living with HIV-some 25.4 million. Africa's AIDS challenge is a multifaceted problem which requires a unique, flexible, and multi pronged approach. Education, prevention, and treatment are a necessary start but the United States must look deeper in order to effectively and properly help the communities of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Current US policy under President George W. Bush is a massive change to previous policy. It commits 15 billion dollars of aid over a five year period. It is supposed to get resources to the frontlines of this battle quite quickly, use new approaches and a new leadership model. It is described to employ evidence-based decisions and demand accountability for results as well.

The world must pray that the enemy has not grown too efficient in the 14 years since it has been identified. It does lack a focus on key issues that are at the root of the problem. AIDS, as are many diseases, is spread rapidly in areas of poverty. There are many threats and even a few opportunities relating to HIV / AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. Left unchecked this situation would most definitely spill over and increase the rapid spread of HIV / AIDS through out the world. This could come from people that were not informed, treated, or prevented from getting the disease.

HIV / AIDS will also compound already debilitating economic and societal problems such as starvation, poverty and lack of education and reduce the government's ability to handle the rising social structures dilemmas. The more people die the more families lose a contributor to family economic preservation, the less teachers there are to teach children, and the larger the strain on the strained health system. All this further strains the economy, scares away tourist, and discourages foreign investment. There are a few possible opportunities in this quandary. This area can be used as a place to study HIV / Aids and test potentially life saving drugs. For selfish US reasons helping in Africa can increase influence in African government and economy as well as show long term goodwill around the world.

For our business sector it can open a large untapped market for drugs. Locally several factors impact the security, economy, and humanitarian efforts. Wherever in the world there is a large part of a society that is downtrodden, sick, and / or has nothing to live for crime is rampant. Couple this with the fact of shrinking numbers in the police and military from AIDS deaths, the issue of civil disorder through out Sub-Saharan Africa is a critical issue that the region must deal with immediately. The economy of this area has been ravished for decades but the AIDS problem is compounding it exponentially. Individual families, small communities, and the area as a whole has lost millions of able body workers that have held the economic burden.

Lose of labor and businesses further the likelihood of foreign investment or tourism which would be essential for an economic rebound. Sub-Saharan Africa has long suffered a humanitarian plight, but the current epidemic has magnified this problem. Families that have lost primary supporters and orphans and will continue the increasing snowball effect. There are hints of opportunity for this area among these horrible situations.

For instance since the drug companies will be likely testing new drugs in the area, local governments should take this as an opportunity to charge some small fee for the testing and invest this money back Local Critical Impact Local Vital Impact Local Opportunistic Impact Security o Increased civil disorder o Loss of security personnel o Increase US influence in government Economic o Strain on economy Discourage foreign investment and tourism o 15 billion in aid over 5 years from USo Lack of focus on education Not attacking root causes o Drug testing o Increase US influence in economy Humanitarian o Increase starvation problem 15 billion in aid over 5 years from US o Increased lack of education and poverty. o Lack of focus on education o Increase US influence in government into the economy or education system. The economic presence of the United States is another area that this region may be able to use opportunistically. The US is known for helping build countries infrastructure, while helping them recover economically. If the US does end up investing time and money in the region it will more likely also want to protect its interests militarily which could help stabilize the areas security problems. The United States has until recently chosen to ignore the problem in Africa much like it has many other problems with post cold war foreign policy. The elephant in the room is definitely the humanitarian problem yet it is a vision of lawlessness and chaos and the potential to destabilize the global economy that has fueled worldwide concern.

These concerns span the spectrum of critical impact AIDS in the Sub-Saharan Africa region has on the US. As seen recently in other regions of the world, areas with a power vacuum containing angry, poverty stricken individuals can be extremely dangerous for the entire world. The US acting first with such a large promise of funds may help to curb feelings of hatred towards Americans and the US maybe able to deter religion fanaticism from spreading in the region. There are opportunities for the US government and US business but both must move ahead cautiously as not to appear to take advantage of the millions of needy Africans. US drug companies can open a market to test new drugs, while researchers can use the area as a case study on the many aspects of AIDS. The US government can increase its influence the large economy that may have lots of untapped potential.

The US may be able to strengthen its military presence in the region which could be a staging ground for any Middle East engagement. The government must tread cautiously in these areas if it wants to help turn the hearts and minds of the Africans and more importantly prove to the rest of the world that its long term good will. US Critical Impact US Vital Impact US Opportunistic Impact Security o Lawlessness and chao so May harbor terrorist o Increased civil disorder in Africa o Increase US influence in government Economic o Potential to destabilize global economy o Discourage foreign investment and tourism o Strain on African economy o Drug testing o Increase US influence in economy Humanitarian o Increase spread of HIV / AIDS throughout world o Increase in starvation and poverty. o Case study for HIV / AIDSo Showing long term good will around world The recently passed US plan employs many great beginnings where there had been nothing before but more is needed. Abdoulaye Wade, the president of Senegal, says countries can not grow on aid alone no matter how much was provided. To be effective prevention must be paired with investment that will create jobs, invigorate the educational system and pull the poor out of the 'here and now' mentality that makes so many susceptible to AIDS. The US needs to train and equip police forces and milit aries in Sub-Saharan Africa while increasing troop involvement in the area.

We must also encourage security forces to root out terrorist camps, recruiting, and propaganda while discouraging religious fanaticism to keep these poisonous agents out of the area. We must try to stabilize and rebuild the economic infrastructure. This can be brought about through grassroots training and equipping in fundamental fields while encouraging foreign investment. Foreign drug companies can humanely test drugs as long as they are held responsible by the United Nations and must invest in education and prevention of AIDS. The US shall encourage multilateral programs that will provide limited treatment to those infected with AIDS and slowing the progression of AIDS in those who are infected with HIV.

Stress on prevention through education, advertising, and overcoming societal taboos is most needed. Addressing of orphans left by AIDS victims and strengthening the educational system are also very important on the humanitarian front. The education system may be the absolute most important area for stress. It can help educate young Africans about HIV / AIDS while also training them to inter the work force and making them less susceptible to fall into crime. The HIV / AIDS epidemic is a horrific disease that inflects part of a continent that seems to be on the verge of holocaust. A band-aid will not mediate the situation.

Only a flexible, fast acting, all encompassing policy that address treatment, prevention, education, security, and economic advancement can truly confront the challenges that lay ahead in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. Security o Train and equip police forces and milit aries while increasing troop involvement in are ao Encourage police force and milit aries to root out terrorist behavior and discourage religious fanaticism Economic Try to stabilize infrastructure and stimulate economic turnaround through training and encouraging foreign investment "The Global HIV / AIDS Emergency and the U.S. Response" web "World estimates of the HIV & AIDS epidemics at the end of 2004" web "SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, HIV and AIDS statistics and features, end of 2002 and 2004" web html en / Epi 04 05 en. htm#P 64 10688"The Global HIV / AIDS Emergency and the U.S. Response" web "AIDS in Africa: Dying by the numbers" CNN. com web "When will Africa Discover Capitalism?" by Adam Wallace web Humanitarian o Provide limited treatment to those inflected with AIDSo Try to slow progression in to AIDS from those infected with Hiv Prevent infection of new HIV cases through education, advertising and overcoming societal taboo so Address orphan problem Strengthen education system.