AIDS

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease in which the immune system is weakened and therefore less able to fight certain infections and diseases. By 2015 HIV/AIDS reduced life expectancy from 64 to 47 in; Botswana Kenya Malawi Namibia Mozambique Rwanda South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe

Kenya: Population - 31.5 million 15.7 million under age 18 892,000 AIDS orphans 72% primary school attendance 220,000 children living with HIV/AIDS 78 babies in 1000 will not live past the age of 5 23% of the population live on less than $1 a day Current Issues: 300,000 children are living on the streets or working in dangerous environments Safe water and sanitation access has declined Malnutrition and child mortality have risen Potential Solutions:Anti AIDS club in Zambia performs a play to promote awareness and prevention of HIV/AIDS. 1,200,000 in Zambia were living with HIV and and 570,000 had lost one or both parents to AIDS.Biomedical Approaches: Condoms Treatment for STDs Protection of blood supply Voluntary HIV testing and counselling Research (microbes, vaccines, drugs) ART (antiretroviral therapy) Behavioural Approaches: High risk behaviour - needle sharing, unprotected sex Empowerment of women Prenatal testing Self protection in sexual relationships