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A grandmother with her orphaned grandchild. 13.4 million African children have been orphaned by the AIDS crisis. More U.S. funding can help save lives.
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HIV/AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since 1981. As of 2007, 33.2 million people* were living with HIV/AIDS. Yet, far more people feel the effects of HIV/AIDS. Through loss of family members, friends, lack of money, stigma and discrimination people young and old are faced with HIV/AIDS challenges everyday. One area of special concern in the global fight against HIV/AIDS is Sub-Saharan Africa.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Of the 33.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS two-thirds live in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the African country of Swaziland one in four adults is HIV positive. In South Africa, one of the major epicenters of the disease, an estimated 5.5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS.
However, in recent years there has been stabilization or a decline among certain populations and countries. For example, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya and Zimbabwe have actually seen national declines. These declines may be due to a change in behavior during the late 1990s. Although this recent trend is promising there is still a major epidemic. More than two million people died from AIDS in 2007; almost three-quarters of those deaths occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Affect on Children
Globally 2.5 million children are living with HIV/AIDS. Although this is a small proportion of the 32.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, many millions of children are severely impacted by a family member who has the disease. Approximately 13.4 million children under the age of 18 have lost one or both parents due to AIDS. Millions more are living with parents who are ill or with families that must stretch scarce resources to care for them. By 2010, the number of children who will have lost one or both parents due to HIV/AIDS is projected to reach 25 million.
International Response
Recently, countries from around the world have taken steps to end the HIV/AIDS crisis. In 2005, the Group of Eight (G8) nations created the goal to provide universal health care access to those with HIV/AIDS by 2010. While many countries have seen an increase in healthcare support for HIV positive people there are still many obstacles. Of the 11 million people who need HIV/AIDS healthcare, it is estimated that less than 50% will receive it by 2010.
Statistics were obtained from the 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update from UNAIDS and the 2006 UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic.
*Although this estimate represents a 16% reduction of the 2006 estimate of people living with HIV/AIDS, this reduction is due to revised statistical methodology in obtaining data. For more information, see the 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update from UNAIDS.
Links:
http://www.unaids.org/en/
http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/aids/
http://www.worldaidscampaign.info/
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/
http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Messages/Aids.aspx
http://www.pepfar.gov/
WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945.
Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.
