Fighting HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most diseased regions of the world.  AIDS is the primary cause of mortality, and as evidenced by the average life expectancy of 46 years, it has devastated the health of Sub-Saharan Africans:

• According to the United Nations about 24.7 million persons in the regions were infected with HIV in 2006. 
• Nine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have HIV infection rates above 10 percent.
• By the end of 2005, an estimated 28.9 million or more Africans had died of AIDS since 1982, including 2.1 million in 2006. 

HIV/AIDS is devastating to the regions' development.  Because it leads to the deaths of millions of individuals in the prime years of their life each year, AIDS is often blamed for the shortage of skilled workers and teachers in the region.  According to UNAIDS, 11 African countries have lost 10 percent of their workforce due to the infection. In addition, the World Bank reports that over 30 percent of teachers are infected with HIV in many Sub-Saharan African countries.

AIDS also threatens Africa's stability and security.  The HIV infection rates in many militaries are reportedly high.  Stability is threatened in African countries if the security forces become unable to perform their duties due to AIDS. 

Affirmative debaters may take several different approaches to solving the problem of AIDS. 

Prevention.  Many organizations have sought to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS through education programs, condom and abstinence promotion, administering anti-HIV drug AZT before and during birth, and empowering girls and women. Increasing support for prevention programs have proven effective in a number of Sub-Saharan African Countries, including Kenya, Uganda, and Senegal. 

There is little agreement on which prevention strategy is most effective.  Many Sub-Saharan Africans have inaccurate information about HIV and how it is transmitted.  Education programs that teach awareness through the media, posters, lectures and skits may decrease transmission rates by increasing awareness.  

In January of 2003, President Bush announced the Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR).  PEEPFAR focuses on prevention, treatment and care of HIV/AIDS patients.  At the center of the prevention program element is an endorsement of the “ABC Model” (Abstain, Be Faithful, or use Condoms).  Some oppose the program because it had reduced condom distribution because two-thirds of the funds must be spent on abstinence and faithfulness programs. 

Administering the anti-HIV drug AZT or nevirapine, before and during birth, and during infant nursing has been successful in reducing mother-to-child transmission of the infection.  There is some controversy surrounding the drug due to the allegation of negative side-effects of the disease. The manufacturer has called these allegations “absolutely false.”

Many also argue that empowering women and girls will lower the transmission rate of HIV/AIDS.  Girls in impoverished conditions often contract HIV from older men who they have relationships with to gain financial, material, and social secutiy.  Widespread sexual violence also contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS.  Many argue that female infection rates would be lower if women’s rights were more respected in Africa, and if women exercised more political sociao-economic power.  Plans that achieve this have the potential to lower the transmission rate in the region. 

Treatment.  Sub-Saharan African’s access to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) is one of the most contentious issues surrounding the world’s response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.  Antiretroviral Therapy exposes an infected patient to several ARVs to substantially slow the progression of HIV into AIDS.  ARVs can allow those infected with HIV to live long and normal lives. 

It is estimated that 4.7 million people are in need of Antiretroviral Therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa.  In 2005, however, only about 800,000 were receiving the treatments.  One of the main obstacles to ARVs is the high cost.  Because so many in the region live in impoverished conditions and lack health insurance, they cannot afford the extimated cost of $10,000 to $15,000 per person per year. 

The protection of intellectual property rights limits the availability of these drugs.  The United States allows only 15 generic ARVs to be sold to Africa.  Affirmative may increase the number of these drugs available to infected Africans.