Thursday’s Warm-up Sub-Saharan Africa, 2007, 1.6 million people dies from AIDS. That same year, 18,000 died in the United States. Why is there such a difference? Take out some paper or a notebook.

AIDS IN AFRICA

AIDS: The Numbers o 40 million people worldwide have HIV/AIDS o 22.5 million people live with HIV in Africa as of o 1.7 million were infected in 2007 o 1.6 million died of AIDS in 2007 o Every minute 11 people are infected with AIDS worldwide; 10 of them come from SSA

AIDS most deadly in Sub- Saharan Africa (SSA)

AIDS IN AFRICA IN % Note high rates in Zimbabwe, Botswana Swaziland and Lesotho

80% of those dying are between 20 and 50 years old. How does this affect a country’s economy? Unlike past pandemics, AIDS kills the healthy as well as the weak, diminishing the number of workers.

KENYA HIV/AIDS has affected the education of its people by forcing orphaned children to stay home and take care of their younger siblings

ZAMBIA In the first ten months of 1998, Zambia lost 1,300 teachers to AIDS - The equivalent of two thirds of all teachers trained annually.

AIDS Orphans It is often left to the older children to raise their brothers and sisters after their parents have died. There are more than 12 millions children in Sub-Saharan Africa who have been made orphans by AIDS.

For many, lack of access to traditional western medicine forces them to resort to treatment by local religious “healers” or tribal medicine men.

Life expectancy has been reduced in SSA from 60 years to 35 years in many countries. In poverty stricken Africa, there is little money available to spend on the sick and dying

POPULATION PYRAMIDS POTENTIAL POPULATION WITHOUT THE AIDS PANDEMIC.

AIDS AND WOMEN IN AFRICA

Women and AIDS Only 9% of pregnant women with HIV living in Africa are provided with drugs which would prevent the infection being passed on to their children. As a result, nearly half a million children become infected with HIV each year. Why? Lack of medicines, money, fear of being tested…

Common AIDS Myths and Misconceptions in Africa AIDS was first caused by having sex with monkeys. (Many scientists now believe AIDS entered the human population by locals eating infected monkey meat---the HIV virus most likely lived in animals for quite some time.) Having intercourse with a virgin will cure AIDS. HIV does not lead to AIDS. Mosquitoes cause AIDS. (Malaria and other diseases yes, AIDS no) AIDS is only a disease for homosexual men and drug abusers. (In Africa, most infection is through unprotected heterosexual intercourse).

AIDS in the Media Meet Kami, a South African Sesame Street character who likes nature, telling stories and collecting stuff. She is also HIV positive and an AIDS orphan. Her name means “acceptance.”

AIDS Prevention/Education The best way to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS is to educate the masses. Almost 90% of people with HIV/AIDS are unaware they carry the virus.

Malaria

Malaria by the numbers: Each year, 1-3 million people die from malaria. 90% of those people live in Sub-Saharan Africa. 85% of those are children under age 5.

Malaria It is spread in tropical areas through infected mosquitoes. Malaria is both preventable and treatable.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Has donated 1.2 billion dollars since Malaria cases have dropped 50% in some areas due to their initiatives.

Websites

What can you do to help?

Sponsor a child with HIV/AIDS.

Buy (RED) products GAP, Apple, Armani American Express, Dell Hallmark, Converse, Starbucks

Join One.org

Nothingbutnets.org $10 will buy a net for someone and they will Teach them to Use it. $10 will buy a net for someone and they will be taught how to properly use it.

theglobalfund.com Donate to help the fight against malaria.

BiteBack.net $10 will buy a net for someone and teach them how to use it.

Assignment Make a poster / mini-billboard educating people in Africa about HIV/AIDS or Malaria.