Impact of AIDS

The number of HIV infections and cases of AIDS reported in the Pacific Island nations is growing steadily. Since many, if not all, of the risk factors for HIV infection are present in the Pacific, without change in behaviors that place people at risk of infection the potential exists for an HIV/AIDS epidemic. This article shows that such an epidemic would considerably increase mortality and slow but not reverse population growth in many Pacific Island countries. As yet, well-designed, multisectoral responses to the threat of an epidemic are lacking. The longer such responses are delayed, the larger will be the epidemic and the greater its potential social and economic costs.

HIV/AIDS is widespread in much of the developing world. Because it results in exceptional levels of illness and death in the mature adult population, it has many social and economic implications. This manual provides basic concepts to assist in thinking about these implications, together with ideas and techniques for planning responses to the medium- and long-term social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS.

This paper explores the nature of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Cambodia, its impact on the country’s development and its effect on the 40 percent of Cambodians who live below the poverty line. It views AIDS within a wider health context, and explores the socio-economic factors that underlie both the epidemic’s development and the shape of the country’s response. Finally, it examines Cambodia’s options going forward, arguing that future responses will be needed along three tracks – those specific to AIDS; those specific to health; and those with a broad development focus.

India has been facing the HIV/AIDS epidemic since 1986 and many of the infected patients since then may have died in the absence of any curative treatment and inaccessibility to drugs.

The potential benefits of giving HIV/AIDS a prominent place in PRSPs and HIPC agreements are substantial. They include greater political attention to and increased domestic funding for the national HIV/AIDS programme, as well as a focus on achieving results in implementing a national HIV/AIDS programme. Crucially, it helps to forge greater consensus among stakeholders on the main strategies and medium-term goals in tackling the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The first AIDS case in India was detected in 1986 and since then, HIV/AIDS epidemic has emerged as a serious public health problem in India. Of the 39.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, 7.1 million are from South and South East Asia and more than 70% of these infections are in India. It is estimated by the Indian government and the UNAIDS that as on December 2004, about 5.1 million individuals- 0.9 percent of the adult population were living with HIV/AIDS in India.

his report makes a rapid appraisal of the impact of conflict on HIV/AIDS in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It is intended as a strategic document, written from the perspective of policy professionals and decision makers outside the health sector.

Great changes have taken place over the last decade in China. While the country’s GDP has increased more than four-fold, socioeconomic transformations have also contributed to and accelerated the epidemci of HIV/AIDS in China. The likelihood of an HIV epidemic has increased.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a problem impacting on all countries around the world. A recent Asia Pacific Ministerial Meeting on HIV/AIDS focused on the economic and security aspects of the escalating epidemic in the region. It was recognised in the discussions that HIV/AIDS could come to place unaffordable demands on countries in the region if the spread of the disease goes unchecked. This makes prevention an essential reaction to this threat (Asia Pacific Ministerial Meeting, October 2001). Papua New Guinea (PNG) is facing one of the greatest potential epidemics if actions are not undertaken or are not successful in controlling the spread of the virus.

Results and findings from this research were analysed and categorised according to the 4 principles of the child rights programming approach. These 4 principles include: best interests of the child, non-discrimination, survival and development, and participation.