The Global Pandemic: The Social and Economic Impact of Aids

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Table of Contents

Introduction…………….……………………………………………………………….       2

Impacts on Water supply……………………………………………………………….       3

Economic impacts on Agriculture…..………………………………………………….       3

The mapping of the geography of Aids in the UK overtime (FIG 1)………...       3

Agriculture’s Contribution to the Gross Domestic Product of a number of Countries   4

(FIG 2)

Reduction in Marketed Output Due to AIDS Deaths in Zimbabwe (FIG 3)..………      4

Economic impacts on Industry ……..………………………………………………….      4

Impacts on Health. ..…………………………………………………………………….      5

The Aids Tax (Fig 4) ……………………..…………..…………..…………..………….     5

Impacts on Transport & Mining………………………………………………………..     6

Positive Economic Impacts  …………………………………………………………….     6

Funeral and Health Care Expenditures (FIG 5)………………………………………      6

Negative Social Impacts …………………………………………………………………    7

The Usage of Hospital Beds (FIG 6)……………………………………………..    7

Indirect Positive Affects on Society……………………………………………………...    8

Population Growth Projection’s with and without Aids(FIG 7)………………    9

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………   10

Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………    11


The Global Pandemic: The Social and Economic Impact of Aids

“Not since syphilis among the Spanish, plague among the French, tuberculosis among the Eskimos, and smallpox among the American Indians has there been the threat of such a scourge”    

                Journal of the American Medical Association, 1985

Introduction

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease that is caused due to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which suppresses the immune system. The first cases were diagnosed in Sub Saharan Africa in the 1980’s. It is presumed that the virus is a variant of a retrovirus found in apes that mutated to form a strand capable of affecting human beings. There are two methods of its transmission namely horizontal and vertical. Horizontal transmission is though sexual contact, transmission of blood and body fluids through infected needles used by intravenous drug addicts and blood transfusions. Vertical transmission is the spread of the virus from a mother to a fetus through the placenta, at childbirth, and by breast feeding. After the virus enters the human body, there is a variable incubation period when the virus replicates. During this period the infected person is symptom free. The virus attacks the T-4 cells (white blood cells) that are responsible for cell mediated immunity and a constant battle wages (Amiralli W). Finally, the virus gains the upper hand and the immune system is severely depressed.  A number of symptoms arise including fever, chronic skin infections, shingles (herpes zoster), chronic diarrhoea, weight loss, and glandular swelling in the neck, armpits, and groin regions. This stage is termed ARC, which is Aids Related Complex. With a further decline in immunity the full blown AIDS pictures develops characterized by opportunistic infections, like Pneumocystic Cariniia Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, and crypto coccal Meningitis, Candida. Finally, the patient succumbs to the disease and AIDS related malignancies arise such as KS (Kaposi's sarcoma). Eventually the patient succumbs to the disease and it is fatal. It is important to find a solution to the AIDS pandemic as it is spreading at an exponential rate (Amiralli, H). According to WHO statistics it is estimated that since the start of the epidemic, HIV has infected almost 58 million men, women and children and AIDS has cost the lives of nearly 22 million adults and children. (Amiralli) Today HIV continues to spread, causing more than 15,000 new infections every day, 95% of which are in the developing world (especially sub-Saharan Africa) (WHO). AIDS is the leading cause of death in Africa, and the fourth worldwide. The extreme loss of life leads to drastic economic and social impacts on nations worldwide, making it imperative to control the disease (Kwesigabo). The map below shows a spread of the disease over time in the United Kingdom and it clearly shows drastic increase in people with Aids. The social impacts resulting from the deaths are a declining population, reduction in the working portion of the population increasing the dependency rate, and a breakdown in the family structure leaving many children as orphans. The economic impacts are as profound with a demand for increased healthcare and education programs, an increase in the number of sex workers as a result of the death of their breadwinners, and since there will be a lack of savings the reduction in investment can lead to a reduction in the economic growth of the already impoverished countries. There are some indirect affects of Aids that lead to positive social and economic impacts. The positive social impacts are a modification of sexual behaviour and a reduction in the global population. The positive economic impacts resulting from Aids is an increase in money previously used for the elderly.

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The mapping of the geography of Aids in the UK overtime. (FIG 1)

Derived from the Geographical Pg 22

Impacts on Water Supply

In the third world clean water is very important as history has shown that disease is spread through water. Diseases like cholera and Bilharzia are spread through contaminated water. There is a limited number of water purifiers and engineers.  This has a large impact on dry and arid areas where controlling excess water during the rainy season requires engineers and maintenance of wells and dams. The effects of a lack of adequate ...

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