HIV/AIDS Public Health Policy

Great Essays
HIV/AIDS PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES 2
HIV/AIDS Public Health Policies
The devastating impact of HIV/AIDS is experienced throughout the world. In order to conduct an in-depth examination of public health policies regarding this disease, the nations of Egypt and Tanzania were selected. These nations were chosen as while they are both located in the continent of Africa, they possess dramatically different rates of occurrence of HIV/AIDS. The prevalence of HIV as the percent of population ages 15-49 years of age in 2014 for Egypt is .1% while the identical demographic for Tanzania is 5.1% (Worldbank, 2014). Yet in comparison, both countries have been dealing with HIV/AIDS for a similar length of time. The first case of HIV/AIDS in
…show more content…
Both nations use education and counseling as a primary method of prevention. However, Tanzania unlike Egypt, has financial limitations as as a country with a variety of religious groups whose views make AIDS education a very controversial subject (Avert, 2012). Never the less the amount of money available to prevention measures does not guarantee the infetion rate to remain low. Egypt is one of the few areas of the world where the occurrence of HIV/AIDS is increasing (Redvers, 2014). Conversely, Tanzania has been able to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS from 5.7% to 5.1% (Tanzania Commission for AIDS, …show more content…
Specifically, Tanzania is also not using widely medications recommended for treatment of HIV and in fact had only begun to implement WHO recommendation regarding phase-out of the antiretroviral drug stavudine in 2011 (Avert, 2012). The availability of qualified healthcare workers is a major issue in Egypt. According to Redvers (2014), “medical students get only two hours of HIV training during their six years of medical school…some students thought bathing more often prevented HIV and swimming in a pool or sharing food with someone with HIV could bring on infection.” (p. 2).

HIV/AIDS PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES 6
Conclusion
Each country is unique in it social views as well as financial capacity to enact preventative measures and to provide care for those suffering from HIV/AIDS. For Tanzania and Egypt these social views and financial ability directly impact the amount of intervention the government is able to provide in the fight against the disease and the number of citizens infected with

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    While noting that these programs have not always worked as well as planned. The problem with PEPFAR or the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the problem with it is that it included a prostitution pledge, in that any organization that wanted funding had to denounce sex workers. Moreover, one-third of funds would go to abstinence only programs, which many people are critical of. Another problem is that PEPFAR is that they want to purchase name brand AIDS medication, which is too expensive and out of reach for people in low income countries. In addition, UNICEF is another institution that works to give health care to children around the world.…

    • 1085 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The village is without, and therefore seeks, electricity and other basic commodities that we take for granted in the Unites States of America. One of the biggest problems that those in Ivory Coast face, and all of Africa face, is the epidemic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. AIDS is very prevalent throughout all of Africa. It is a massive problem that affects millions in the entire continent. The continent, as a whole, makes up less than 20% of the entire planet’s population, but it makes up over 60% of the planet’s AIDS cases.…

    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There is no clear predetermined linkage between a specific subtype and a unique mode of transmission. Therefore, different subtypes could have been influenced by a combination of different genetic, demographic, economic and social factors that separate the different risk groups for HIV-1. HIV is not an airborne virus and cannot be transmitted through casual contact, kissing, urine or even insect vectors [17]. The transmission is only possible if bodily fluids come in contact with a mucous membrane, damaged tissue or injected directly into the bloodstream [18]. Unprotected heterosexual intercourse is the main transmission route causing over 90% of HIV infections in adults [16].…

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    HIV/AIDS is affecting many people because once someone gets infected, they stop working and others stop working in order to help them, which affects the income of most people, putting many in debt for lack of income. ADD 2 MORE ISSUES/ CHALLENGES ( Health care) (Social, economic,…

    • 1020 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    AIDS In Africa

    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages

    HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus responsible for causing AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). The virus leaves the human immune system weak and renders infected individuals vulnerable to other illnesses. HIV has been thought to have originated on the African continent and is becoming an increasing medical issue there. The documentary AIDS in Africa details the rise and impact of the rate of HIV infection and AIDS throughout the African continent. In the documentary, various medical professionals are interviewed for their perspective, and all express concern over the rising rates of infection and lack of resources for prevention in Africa.…

    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    In the article “AIDS in Africa” by Alison Katz, a widely known member of the People’s Health Movement, there is a clear line between what many people think the root problems of AIDS/HIV are and what Katz believes. She makes many strong statements about this and makes her argument very well understood by the audience. She also gives light to why the masses ideas on AIDS/HIV are wrong. There are many comments made by Katz which tell the reader that the majority of people’s ideas about AIDS/HIV are wrong. She states that they think that AIDS/HIV is spread because African people are promiscuous and overall bad people.…

    • 446 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Djib recognizes that his mother was the one who scarified a lot in order for him and his sister to be as successful as they are. Along with being educated the new image of Africa aims to try to prevent and protect the health of the people by promoting awareness about AIDS. For example, “ When the Faat Kine and her friends are setting around talking and asking about wearing a condom and making sure that they have some with them just in case if things were to go that far” (Ousmane,2001). In the past many people have contracted AIDS and there is no cure for it, costing many lives to be lost, due to the fact many were not properly educated about how serious it was to protect them when engaging in sexual activities. Since there is a big movement about educating about sexual transmitted diseases and how to prevent and protect yourself the rate of contracting these disease has slowly…

    • 1163 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    HIV/AIDS: Case Study in Uganda The AIDS Support Organization known as TASO is an important organization in Uganda for people living HIV positive or with AIDS. The success of fighting HIV/AIDS is unprecidented and scientists look upon Uganda as a model. Since the 1980s, HIV/AIDS has been a worldwide problem and Uganda realized the potential problem and began organization early in the beginning of the disease to help Ugandans. Uganda is considered one of the most impoverished nations in the world due to political turmoil and economic decline.…

    • 1867 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    “Science does not exist in a vacuum.” The pursuit and dissemination of scientific knowledge is a result of interactions far beyond the laboratory environment; government funding, social perceptions and politics all affect the path of science. Epidemiologist Elizabeth Pisani’s button-pushing account of efforts to prevent the spread of HIV during the late 1990’s and early twenty-first century, The Wisdom of Whores, is guided by this idea. Pisani discusses the many ways that factors outside of science have shaped the war against HIV/AIDS. Incredibly accessible, accurate, and brutally honest, The Wisdom of Whores should be required reading for young adults.…

    • 1313 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Although the book primarily discusses HIV/AIDS in Asia,…

    • 704 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Integrated HIV Prevention

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages

    An investment in integrated HIV prevention services would aid in the reduction of new HIV infections, standardize prevention services across health care organizations and curb economic burden of providing HIV treatment over a patient’s lifespan. Standardized integrated preventative services across healthcare systems would destigmatize HIV services facilitating universal access to prevention and treatment services. HIV infection can occur regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age, social status, and lifestyle, even if there are certain groups at higher risk. Integrated preventive services would benefit all populations including those vulnerable populations that need special consideration due to lack of access to care, poverty, geographical…

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    I chose a governmental website in order to look at HIV/AIDS through a biomedical standpoint. This website provides the basic facts in regards to HIV/AIDS, treatment options, reducing risks, potential health related problems, and other biomedical criteria. In addition to this viewpoint, the website involves methods of coping for patients as well as friends and family, legal rights, and discrimination. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is defined as a communicable disease that is transmitted through human to human contact of bodily fluids. HIV attacks the immune system and targets the body’s T cells which results in the body’s difficulty in fighting infections.…

    • 1492 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Access to adequate health care is an important concept in an individual's life. The health care system exposes people to an early treatment and prevention of diseases such as HIV/AIDS. HIV is known as a poverty-related disease along with Tuberculosis, which it extremely strains the health care system. Access to health care gives individuals an opportunity to receive an early diagnosis, early treatment and to gain health information which could assist in the prevention of diseases. For instance, the health care system in SA is considered poor especially in rural areas, as there is a lack of support from the community due to ill health.…

    • 236 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    There are many challenges that exist with providing effective prevention/intervention programs on a global scale. One of the many challenges is money. Poor countries don’t have the money or resources to educate or test citizens and supply them with protection such as condoms and antiviral treatment for pregnant women. Additionally, there may be a sense of shame in some of these populations. These countries may not want to admit that they have a problem with HIV and just ignore it, choosing not to educate their population on prevention.…

    • 204 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    'Acquired Immune Deficiency Virus (AIDS) is caused by a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that weakens the immune system , making the body susceptible to and unable to recover from op­portunistic diseases that lead to death' (USAID, 2010, pp.173). It is one of the major challenges for Pub­lic Health and it is the world's leading infectious killer. According to the WHO, 35 million people are living with HIV worldwide. In middle and low income countries is the majority of infec­ted people. In 2013, 2.1 million new infections occurred in low and middle income countries (WHO, 2013).…

    • 2493 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Superior Essays

Related Topics