Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Conclusion
notwithstanding domestic and international efforts to tackle the HIv/aIDS epidemic
in southern africa, the region most affected by the disease over the past decade, there
is little indication that the battle to eradicate or even contain the disease is being
won. Millions more individuals in southern africa will continue to be affected, either
through the loss of their loved ones or by succumbing to the disease themselves,
before these countries will begin to harvest the fruit from their national HIv/aIDS
programmes. the question that should be asked is what steps are needed at this stage
to minimise this impact of HIv/aIDS over the short to medium term. Fortunately,
as more donor aid is being poured into the region and generic aIDS drugs in recent
years by african states, principally South africa, are manufactured, more HIv-
positive persons in the region are living longer lives than ever before.
Despite the devastating consequences wrought by the disease over the past decade
on the region's social and economic well-being, there is an opportunity for these
countries to tackle the disease and bring it under control. this has transpired over the
past few years in Uganda and to a lesser degree in Zimbabwe. Fortunately, the virus
is unable to spread through casual human contact, and the availability of low-cost
generic drugs offers a lifeline to many HIv-positive people in these southern african
countries. In addition, governments are waging better aIDS awareness campaigns
that are strengthened by media emphasis on safe sex practices. In view of all of these
efforts there is increased hope that the chance of succeeding in the battle to control
the spread of HIv/aIDS has never been better.
what is needed currently is a better coordination among all sectors of society,
including government, business, and civil society, to pull their resources together in
order to promote interventions to help treat and control the disease. Governments
and the private sector are encouraged to work together to mitigate the problems
caused by HIv/aIDS by way of:
• ensuring that safe blood supplies are available in hospitals;
• promoting safe sex education in schools;
• making counselling, testing, and treatment available and administered to local
populations; and
• making sure that the human rights and dignity of all HIv-positive people are
respected in all sectors of society and raising awareness among the general
population that HIv-positive individuals can live long, productive lives and
contribute to their communities at large.
with the vast majority of the people of those countries remaining HIv-negative,
there is increasing hope among african governments and donor communities alike
that all is not lost for southern africa to turn back the tide and take control over the
fight against this preventable disease.
 
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