South Africa has more people with HIV/AIDS than any other country in the world. Over 5,700,000 South Africans are living with HIV/AIDS, which is 12% of the population of South Africa (Banerjee 63). The adult population with HIV/AIDS is 18.1%. South Africa continues to struggle in regards to dealing with this disease. In 2007, only 28% of people with AIDS received anti-retroviral treatment (Central Intelligence Agency 1). This number has improved from 2004 however, when only 4% of people with AIDS received anti-retroviral treatment. AIDS continues to be a huge problem to the South African population. In 2007, around 280,000 South Africans died of AIDS. That’s about half of all South African deaths that year (Mid-year Population Estimates, 1). There is still great mystery as to why South Africa is so affected, especially compared to other African countries that have greater poverty. However, it is known that South Africa has made mistakes in regards to how to prevent the spread of HIV. As clarified through explanations of the prevalence of the disease, what affects economic growth and what’s being done to stop the spread, economic development in South Africa is disturbed greatly by the continuous rise in HIV/AIDS.
It is estimated that 10.9% of all South Africans have HIV/AIDS. HIV is most common among female adults under the age of 40. Not much is being done to help limit the spread of HIV. Slightly more than 50% of sexually active South Africans have ever had at least one HIV test (Sub-Saharan Africa). South Africa is struggling with regards as to how they should treat the spread of HIV. What has worked best at limiting the spread of HIV has been the ability for South Africa to help educate people in regards to how to prevent HIV. Knowledge about HIV/AIDS is lowest among people older than 50 years (Banerjee 63). In 2008, more than half of South Africans with HIV reside in the most popular provinces: the KwaZulu-Natal and Gautleng provinces (Sub-Saharan Africa, 1). This just shows that some areas seem to have greater availability of resources, since areas of poverty and education vastly range from different provinces.
. Expenses related to HIV/AIDS are equivalent to 4% of all salaries in South Africa. The cost of HIV/AIDS include: costs associated with greater absenteeism, reduced productivity, increased turnover, and healthcare costs (Central Intelligence Agency). To counteract these problems, two main campaigns were enacted: Soul City (a television drama for adults) and Soul Buddyz (a television series for teenagers) (Booysen, 1). While these two campaigns were effective at first, there was unfortunately a decrease in quality on condoms, creating a loss on effectiveness in HIV prevention in the 21st century. It seems as though South Africa has no successful plan in regards to effectively stopping the spread of HIV.
In 1983, AIDS was first diagnosed to two patients in South Africa. By 1986, there were 46 AIDS diagnoses. In 1990, 1% of South Africans had AIDS. In 1999 the figure had reached 10%. Now, it’s estimated that 6 million people currently have HIV/AIDS in South Africa (Booysen 1). A major reason as to why there was still so much of a continuation of the spread of HIV/AIDS in South Africa came from the fact that there was much AIDS denialism in South Africa. The president declared that the virus of HIV ‘couldn’t cause a syndrome’ like AIDS. The effort to improve HIV/AIDS treatment was damaged by the attitude of many figures in the government when the health minister incorrectly claimed that a diet of lemon, garlic, and olive oil could cure the disease (Booysen 1). There is hope that in the near future, there will be greater availability of resources to prevent HIV/AIDS. South Africa has the potential to turn around the amount of future diagnoses, for they have the industrial power to create affective ways for educating people as to how one becomes HIV+, and what one can do to prevent the disease from spreading.
Bibliography
Banerjee, Abhijit V., and Esther Duflo. Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty. New York: PublicAffairs, 2011. Print.
"Central Intelligence Agency." The World Factbook. OpenGov, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. .
“Mid-year Population Estimates.” Statistics of South Africa. User Information Services, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. .
“Sub-Saharan Africa: AIDS Epidemic Update Regional Summary.” Joint United Programs on AIDS. World Health Organization, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. .
Booysen, F. R. Geldenguys, J.P. & Marinkov, M. “The Impact of HIV/AIDS on the South African Economy: A Review of Current Evidence.” University of the Free State. Department of Economics, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. .
Bibliography: Banerjee, Abhijit V., and Esther Duflo. Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty. New York: PublicAffairs, 2011. Print. "Central Intelligence Agency." The World Factbook. OpenGov, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. . “Mid-year Population Estimates.” Statistics of South Africa. User Information Services, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. . “Sub-Saharan Africa: AIDS Epidemic Update Regional Summary.” Joint United Programs on AIDS. World Health Organization, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. . Booysen, F. R. Geldenguys, J.P. & Marinkov, M. “The Impact of HIV/AIDS on the South African Economy: A Review of Current Evidence.” University of the Free State. Department of Economics, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. .
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