You will need your packets.

Created by Mrs. Jarmer

March 2011Main Resource: http://www.avert.org/history-aids-africa.htm

HIV and AIDS in Africa

What is the difference between HIV and

AIDS?

HIV Versus AIDS

HIVHuman Immunodeficiency VirusVirus that damages the immune systemDoes not mean that you have AIDSHIV is not fatalTransmitted through unprotected sex, contact with blood, semen, and breast milk

AIDSAcquired Immune DeficiencyOccurs when HIV goes untreatedThe immune system is so weak that it cannot fight off infections

HIV originated in south-east Cameroon around 1930.

The virus most likely jumped to humans when humans hunted chimpanzees for meat and came into contact with their infected blood.

African Origins

In the 1970s HIV is carried from an infected person who travels from Cameroon to Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The virus enters into a wide urban sexual network and spreads quickly, creating an epidemic.

Epidemic: a rapid development, spread, or growth of something, especially something unpleasant

HIV Becomes an Epidemic

First carried into the eastern countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya in the 1970s, but not considered an epidemic until the 1980s.

Thought to have spread so quickly because of labor migration (truck drivers , soldiers, traders and miners) lack of circumcision, high incidents of rape, and sex workers.

In Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, 85% of sex workers were infected with HIV by 1986.

Rapid Transmission in the East

Uganda's "Slim Disease"

Rapid Transmission in the East

HIV was much more prevalent in Eastern Africa than in Western Africa.

Long distances between cities

The difficulty of travel

Violence and insecurity

East vs West

By the 1980s, there were cases of HIV in North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Australia.

Transmission Worsens

• HIV wasn’t diagnosed until 1984

Misconceptions:Transmission through

contactOverweight people

cannot get HIVOnly promiscuous

people can get HIVNo Cure=No Reason

to Get TestedNo preventative steps

taken

Ignorance Isn't Always Bliss

If you were a politician in an African country effected by HIV/AIDS, how would you handle the problem?

A. Create an educational program to prevent the spread of the virus

B. Ban all at risk behavior indefinitely to prevent the spread of the virus

C. Move all infected people to their own country

D. Do nothing

And be prepared to justify your answer.

You Make The Call (30 Seconds to Think)

Politicians were reluctant to admit to a HIV epidemic in their country.

President Mobutu of the Congo banned the subject from the press for four years between 1983 and 1987

Zimbabwean doctors were instructed not to mention AIDS on death certificates.

Government Response to HIV

DENY, DENY, DENY!

“The fear of offending powerful religious constituencies… created gridlock in some national governments, and for good reason.  Conservative lobbies have shown that they can obstruct everything from family life and education to condom promotion if they chose”.

Government Response to HIV

President of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika, on a billboard

“AIDS is not spreading like bush fire in Africa. It is malaria and other tropical diseases that are killing millions of children every day.” ~ Halfdan Mahler, from the World Health Organization, 1985.

Global Response

“Everything is getting worse and worse in AIDS and all of us have been underestimating it, and I in particular.” ~ Halfdan Mahler, from the World Health Organization, 1986.

UNAIDSTreatment Action Campaign (TAC)The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis

and MalariaWorld Health OrganizationPresident’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

(Bush)(RED)

Organizations

Drug treatments that help control the disease are now available to patients in the developed world

Developed World: the nations of the world which are considered more economically and technologically advanced; industrialized nations

Third World: the underdeveloped nations of the world, especially those with widespread poverty

The cost of such treatments are too costly for most African governments to purchase

Current Situation

Where did it originate?How did humans first get it?What two things most surprised you?