HIV/AIDS: A Battle Not Yet Won

HIV/AIDS: A Battle Not Yet Won

In 1981, an unknown virus began to spread throughout the United States, targeting gay men and causing significant death and terror. Today it does not present the same threat it once had in the US, due to easy access to screening tests and treatment, but in many African countries, such as Nigeria and South Africa, there is still widespread death and infection. In East and Southern Africa, the region hit hardest by HIV, there are “key populations” that have the focus of most anti-AIDS organizations: sex workers, drug injectors, young women, and men who have sex with men. (AVERT) These groups are named as key populations because they have the greatest internal percentage of the virus compared to the general population, and are at a greater risk of spreading it to others. 

While there is increasing support for the prevention of HIV in East and Southern Africa, many countries and organizations are still underfunded, and most citizens are still uneducated on topics concerning safe sex. While there is change being made, many African countries still require more support to get a better control of the epidemic. 

In terms of success, since the early 2000s, various organizations such as UNAIDS, AVAC, and PEPFAR have been working to help control and give support to widely affected African countries. For example, AVAC is a global initiative that is providing PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, to reduce the risk of HIV infection. (PrEP) Doctors and counselors are available for those with AIDS or HIV or are on PrEP, and publications like the New York Times are creating videos with tips for women on how to hide their medication and how to see doctors and counselors. (Mcneil) The numbers of children aged 0-14 infected with HIV have dropped by 56% due to mothers taking HIV medication. In East and Southern Africa, both infections and deaths from HIV and AIDS have dropped from 2010 to 2016, as the number of AIDS-related deaths fell from 760,000 to 420,000- caused in part by greatly increased access to antiretroviral treatment (ART). (AVERT) For women and children especially, progress has been made in combating HIV. 

However, there is still change needed. Due to a lack of reported data, there is a high likelihood of error in the statistics reported by sex workers and gay/bisexual men. (AVERT) Social stigmas cause homophobia and abuse and intimidate women into not taking anti-HIV medication. (Mcneil) Countries such as South Africa, which has the largest number of people with HIV on ART, still have treatment coverage that reaches only half the population that requires it. Funding has been lessening since 2008, and laws against same-sex relations, drug use, and sex work have made it difficult for organizations to lend support. (AVERT) The UNAIDS website states that “tackling the HIV epidemic in East and Southern Africa is a long-term task that requires sustained effort and planning from both domestic governments and the international community,” especially for key populations affected by stigmas and discrimination

Incredible steps have been taken in Africa regarding the HIV/AIDS epidemic, although there is still more work to be done in certain areas. The main things that stand in the way of the end of the epidemic are lack of funding and comprehensive education and social stigmas. These could possibly all be overcome, with support from stable countries and organizations, changes to the civil rights laws in African countries such as Kenya, Liberia, and Uganda (Amnesty), better sex education, and widespread use of condoms. Hopefully, in the future, we can look back on the AIDS crisis in Africa just as we do the epidemic in the US and see a difficult past instead of a present-day issue. 

Mcneil, Donald G. “Six Lessons in Helping African Women Avoid H.I.V.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 15 Dec. 2017

“Making Love a Crime: Criminalization of Same-Sex Conduct in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Amnesty International. https://www.amnestyusa.org/files/making_love_a_crime_-_facts__figures.pdf  



“PrEP.” AVAC, 21 Mar. 2018, www.avac.org/prevention-option/prep. 



“South Africa.” UNAIDS, 12 Jan. 2018, www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/southafrica.