'Dramatic Drop In global HIV infections'

Awesome news. I've chosen to post about HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) in this post particularly because it's a topic that's quite personal to me. I grew up in Kenya during the 1990's during which the AIDS/HIV epidemics was very serious and to hear that there's been a dramatic drop globally in HIV/AIDS statistics is great news. 


HIV/AIDS attacks the immune system and is carried by bodily fluids and is transmitted by sexual contact or blood contact. Where HIV is the virus, AIDS is the condition and appears during the late stages of HIV. As a child I knew someone who had HIV. The disease acted aggressively towards this person and left them weak and vulnerable to infection. 

What I want to investigate further is why did this epidemic occur? How could Kenya have avoided it? Why wasn't there enough recognition of the disease at the time? I've always believed that prevention is more effective than treatment, so if we can find the source and cater to it then there will be no need to go any further. 

“It all started as a rumour… Then we found we were dealing with a disease. Then 
we realised that it was an epidemic. And, now we have accepted it as a tragedy.” - Chief epidemiologist in Kampala, Uganda.1 


Putting this into context, over the epidemic it is estimated that 1 million Kenyans have been victimised by this disease and have lost their lives, Kenya's HIV prevalence had peaked during the late 1990's. Although the evidence was clear cut, sadly the Kenyan leaders refused to believe it was a problem that they needed to address. The Kenyan President 1978-2002 had said: ''The threat of AIDS has reached alarming proportions and must not be treated casually; in today’s world, condoms are a must'' however many believed that the government simply did not do enough to educate the Kenyan's on the topic. 


Prevention from accessing condoms aswell as the lack of knowledge and the social stigma that surrounded HIV did not help the case at all. Many simply did not know what to do or where to look for in terms of going for testing. Many were simply embarrassed to do so in fears of what their family members or friends would say. Because of this many just suffered in silence. 


Thankfully, the numbers of people suffering from HIV as decreased radically and sensitive issues are being addressed. Education and awareness really is the key to eradicating HIV/AIDS and preventing its contraction. We also need to be more sensitive to individuals and their circumstances and make treatments more accessible to the public. 

I have merely just touched on the topic in this post and I'd love to discuss it with anyone who's interested.

Comment/message - you know what to do - and as always thanks for reading!

Extra reading:
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24208972#?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
http://www.avert.org/history-hiv-aids-africa.htm
http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-kenya.htm
http://giswin.geo.tsukuba.ac.jp/sis/thesis/PhD_Ngigi.pdf