Case study: AIDS Epidemic

Statistics AIDs kills 10,000 people a day 25.8 million people are affected in Sub-Saharan Africa It is an epidemic – infectious disease that is widespread in a community More than 1 million adults die of HIV/AIDs every year 14 million children are orphaned by AIDs

Compared to the rest of the world

Reason #1 – Started in Africa Disease originated in the Africa so it has had more time to spread The exact origin is still unknown and debated today, information is still being researched.

Reason #2 - Colonization Africa was weakened by slavery and colonization for roughly 500 years Hoarding resources Europeans left with many resources Africans needed after independence Today much of the aid from foreign countries is held by corrupt governments

Reason #3 – denial & poor healthcare Some governments tell AIDs patients to rely on herbal remedies instead of drugs from the West Men do not feel protection is needed so many refuse to use it Traditionally large families means birth control methods are discouraged Difficult to receive these methods even if they wanted to

Comparing Central Pa to Democratic Republic of Congo Pennsylvania Democratic Republic of the Congo 20 hospitals 14 hospitals