1. A D A M C R O W E L L
A P W O R L D H I S T O R Y
AIDS Pandemic in Africa

2. AIDS Overview
 HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) – can hide in
body cells for a long time and attacks human T-Cells and
CD4 cells which are part of immune system.
 This can lead to depletion of CD4 cells which leads to
AIDS (Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome).
 People with AIDS have badly damaged immune systems,
making them at risk for normal infections.
 There is currently no known cure.
 It is believed HIV came from a kind of
chimpanzee in Western Africa (which
human hunted and ate) as long ago as the
late 1800s.
HIV Virus: http://www.rkm.com.au/VIRUS/HIV/HIV-images/HIV-virus.jpg

3. Transmission
 HIV transmission can only occur
when human fluids from an
infected person enter body of an
uninfected person.
 Most commonly transmitted
through sex and sharing needles
or injection equipment with a
HIV+ person. Mothers’ also often
pass it to babies before or after
birth in breast milk.
Images: http://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/prevention/reduce-your-risk/fluids-of-transmission/

4. Location
 People infected with HIV/AIDS are found around
world (34 million in 2011).
 Sub-Saharan Africa is most affected region
 1 of every 20 adults is living with HIV
 69% of people living with HIV are in
this region
 This is due to a variety of reasons
including weak economies and
political unrest.
Map: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nWFvs2MmnOk/TKfjArO6LII/AAAAAAAAAFQ/NAn8Hsal-xs/s1600/AIDS-AFRICA-MAP-2007-
Number.jpg

5. Challenges with Treatment
 AIDS negatively affects health, education, industry,
agriculture, transport, human resources and the economy
of countries where people are affected.
 Africa faces particular set of problems:
 Trying to provide health care and
treatment to growing number of
people affected with HIV/AIDS
 Trying to increase use of protection
techniques
 Trying to overcome impact of millions
of deaths on community.
Map: http://www.uccronline.it/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Aids-in-Africa.jpg

6. Prevention Attempts
 Senegal responded to threat of HIV with political and
community leadership and have relative low HIV
prevalence in area.
 Condoms have played a role in preventing infection with
donors willing to donate more condoms to help prevent
spread of HIV
 It’s a relatively cheap and effective way
to handle situation.
 Voluntary spread of HIV is reduced
when people know they are affected so
multiple countries have tried to test
more people to let them know of status.
Awareness Billboard: http://www.avert.org/media-gallery/image-36-aids-awareness-billboard-in-lundazi-zambia

7. More Treatments and Problems
 Without intervention, there is a 20-45% chance
HIV+ mother will pass virus to child.
 Antiretroviral drugs can reduce this percent, but this
and the testing to find out who has HIV costs money
many Africans do not have.
 Increasing numbers of African countries
are offering these ARV drugs, but there
are still shortages and not enough
medical professionals to administer
drugs to everyone who needs them.
ARV treatment (Botswana): http://www.avert.org/media-gallery/image-809-access-to-antiretroviral-treatment-in-
botswana

8. Causes
 Although originally getting HIV was largely
unavoidable, problem exacerbated by state of Africa
after European powers left continent.
 European countries put whites in charge while they
ruled and pitted African tribes and groups against
one another so they did not unite to overthrow them.
 Few attempts were made to
improve quality of life and no
attempts to promote industry
or manufacturing occurred.
Map: http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/other/wach/topic5/afr1914.gif

9. Effects
 Since whites were in power even after European countries left,
and due to racial tensions, there were large civil wars throughout
Africa.
 This reduced Africa’s ability to grow its economy beyond most
basic industries.
 With no unity, and no way to obtain needed competitive
industries, Africans were stuck in poverty that many remain in
today
 This means that Africans can not
afford either the education or the
prevention techniques that might
help reduce or even stop the spread
of HIV.
African Kids begging for Food:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UhfrYwFtUuU/S_GBJEY8GII/AAAAAAAAABE/1MoxVWlSpMQ/s1600/hunger.jpg

10. International Efforts
 The International Community has donated billions of
dollars to fighting AIDS with the UN.
 The US Government started the President’s Emergency
Plan for AIDS Relief and in 2009 alone allocated
almost $6.5 billion for
fighting AIDS.
 Although a lot of money has been
donated, the fight still continues
but unfortunately due to global
recession since 2008 funding
has flat lined.
Graph: http://toglobalist.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Screen-Shot-2012-05-26-at-3.52.35-
PM.png

11. Impact we can have
 We can play a role in helping with the HIV/AIDS
epidemic in Africa and around the world by raising
awareness of this very important problem.
 We can also try to raise money for this cause and donate
ourselves.
 Ultimately, although the fight has been going for a
awhile, it will unfortunately still be years
until we will finally be able to
declare victory so we need to be
resolute in our desire to defeat
this terrible disease.
UN formed AIDS ribbon: http://www.avert.org/media-gallery/image-721-un-staff-members-form-the-aids-ribbon

12. Works Cited
 "AIDS/HIV." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2013.
<www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs360/en/index.html>.
 "HIV Facts." Medicine Net. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2013.
<www.medicinenet.com/human_immunodeficiency_virus_hiv_aids/articl
e.htm>.
 "HIV and AIDS in Africa." HIV & AIDS Information from AVERT.org.
N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2013. <http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-africa.htm>.
 "HowStuffWorks "Africa - The African Nations"." HowStuffWorks
"History". N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2013.
<http://history.howstuffworks.com/african-history/history-of-
africa6.htm>.
 "International HIV Fund." International HIV Fund. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May
2013. <http://www.internationalhivfund.org>.
 "What Is HIV/AIDS?." Welcome to AIDS.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2013.
<http://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/what-is-hiv-aids/>.