Tag: HIV/AIDS

Bringing it Together

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AIDS: Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome

Dr. Liao, Furman University
Dr. Liao, Furman University

This past week I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Liao, who is a Biology professor at Furman University. Dr. Liao walked me through the scientific make up and nature of HIV/AIDS. Before this interview I did not know the technical and scientific aspects of the disease, but was more focused on understanding the effects it has on the people it infects. My newfound understanding of where the disease stems from, has provided me with a whole new perspective on the disease.

As an American, I am very fortunate to have extraordinary medical assistance and healthcare at my fingertips. Now that I am aware of the ways in which HIV/AIDS is contracted, can spread, and infect; I have a better understanding of how I can help those less fortunate than myself. Dr. Liao insisted that in order to really stop the spread of HIV/AIDS people need to understand where it comes from, because with the knowledge of how the disease works people can then combat its deadly course.

Local and national philanthropies such as PEPFAR, The Gates Foundation, and Africa Rising are doing many wonderful things such as providing aid and assistance to people suffering from HIV/AIDS, but the money can only go so far. Through my research I have learned that in order to truly stop the spread of HIV/AIDS philanthropies and groups need to start educating those that are infected and providing them with the knowledge of why and how they are infected and how they can stop future infections. Hopefully, with the knowledge and understanding of HIV/AIDS we will start to see a decline in infections, and put an end to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

For an interview with Dr. Liao: One on One with Dr. Liao

Slideshow of Pictures: Looking to the Future

From Knowledge to Action

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  • There are 33.2 million HIV-infected people in the world
  • There are approximately 14,000 new HIV infections daily around the world, and over 90% of these are from developing countries (USC Medical Dept.)

As I have stated in previous blog posts, HIV/AIDS is a worldwide pandemic that needs to controlled. Thousands of people are dying daily due to this terrible disease, and the end does not seem to be in sight. The United States, being one of the most powerful and advanced societies in the world, needs to take action against HIV/AIDS.

Throughout this semester, I have done much research on HIV/AIDS and really immersed myself in organizations and philanthropies such as Africa Rising, which is focused on providing medical aid to Africa and spreading the word on what can be done to help on a local level. Through my immersion it has come to my attention how little people know about the seriousness and extent of this disease, and what they can do to help. This lack of knowledge caught my attention, and I decided to randomly ask five Furman Students two questions the first one being;

1.   What is Pepfar? (the US President’s emergency plan for AIDS relief)

2.   Have scientists and doctors developed a cure/vaccine for HIV/AIDS?

Sadly, not one person knew or had even heard of Pepfar, BUT every person knew that scientists and doctors had not developed a vaccine for HIV/AIDS. It is overwhelmingly evident that people get too caught up in their own lives to think about what is going on in other countries and even in the United States.

Africa Rising President, Caitlyn Griffith in Africa
Africa Rising President, Caitlyn Griffith in Africa

For more information click to hear an interview with Africa Rising President, Caitlyn Griffith:

Caitlyn Griffith Interview

Not So Happily Ever After: Horrors of Sex Tourism

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Bangkok Red Light District
Bangkok, Thailand's Red Light District (Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7899215@N02/466289031/)

Thailand, a country often deemed the “Land of Smiles”, has become a travelers’ hotspot, renowned for its sex tourism industry.   The industry is essentially run on the sex trade of extremely poor women and children, many of whom are trafficked into Thailand from Burma.  Due to the country’s general poverty, the revenue that sex tourism brings in, and the corruption of the police enforcement in Thailand, the practice continues as a prime contributor to international human trafficking.  Ironically, discussion of sexuality is frowned upon in these more conservative Asian countries, so a blind eye is turned on sex trade industry making it difficult to reform.

Bangkok, Thailand’s capital city has specifically become notorious for both its Red Light District and its array of perverse entertainment.  Performances called “Ping-Pong Shows” showcase young women, forced into the business by trafficking, poverty, or a combination of the two.  The women appear in a variety of forms of sexual torture, inserting and ejecting everything from small turtles to razor blades to ping pong balls into their vaginas throughout their act.  Sexually transmitted diseases, particularly AIDS/HIV, have become prevalent due to Thailand’s boom in sex tourism, however the Thai government is hesitant to address the problem out of fear of the loss of tourists’ business.

As of 2009, it is estimated that more than 10% of the country’s tourist spending goes towards the sex trade, driven largely by Westerners’ dollars.  Of those in the sex trade in Thailand, more than 30% are between the ages of 12 and 17.

Click to view more images of Sex Trade in Thailand Slideshow

Sources:

Blog: Untold Stories Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

Slideshow: Photographer: preventhumantrafficking and nntoan93

(RED): The Color of an Emergency

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“We must all come together in supporting the global fund and the fight against AIDS.

…I applaud (RED) and its partners for their vision and commitment.” –Nelson Mandela

This quote by former South African President, Nelson Mandela, is printed at the top of one of the most well-known AIDS philanthropic organizations, “The (RED) Campaign.” Mandela is right, with HIV/AIDS continuing to be a growing epidemic, people all around the world need to work together in order to stop the spread of this fatal disease. Foreign Policy and governmental aid are doing all they can in order to help with programs such as PEPFAR and USAID but they are not enough to stop this epidemic, therefore there are hundreds of philanthropic groups devoted to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS.

(RED) is one of the leading philanthropic organizations and most well-known. Founded by U2 front man, Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2002, The (RED) Campaign raises awareness and money for the Global Fund by pairing with the most popular icons in today’s world such as; American Express, Gap, Apple, and Starbucks.

Today, there is an estimated 33 million people living with HIV, and 2.7 million people were newly infected in 2007. HIV/AIDS can be stopped if everyone works together. For example, with the help of (RED) and its sponsors the purchase of one Ipod and nine Starbucks drinks provides someone living with HIV in Africa with three weeks and three days of lifesaving medicine. This is incredible, and if everyone continues to be informed and work together, hopefully the battle with HIV/AIDS will come to an end.

Product (RED)
(PRODUCT) Red

Bush vs Obama: The AIDS Battle

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We all know the dangers and growing concerns surrounding Africa’s AIDS crisis, and no one knows what the future fate of the country will be. It seems that only time will tell. Although George Bush has received a lot of negative publicity since his presidency, he did many great things to combat AIDS in Africa. Under his administration he set up an Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, also known as PEPFAR. PEPFAR has committed $15 billion dollars over five years to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. According to time.com “PEPFAR has increased tenfold the number of HIV-infected patients in Africa who receive antiretroviral treatments.” Today, with a new President, and different plans surrounding medical aid, no one knows where the fate of Africa will lie.

During Obama’s campaign, he pledged to support PEPFAR, and now it is up to him to follow through. Recently, U.S global AIDS coordinator, Eric Goosby, released information surrounding what the Obama Administration calls “the next phase of PEPFAR” time.com. In this phase they will stray away from emergency help to sustainable help in order to meet the needs of people with HIV. Many doctors and citizens are asking, “is this enough?” Health officials know that HIV is very dangerous, and Africa needs all the support it can get. So, as I said before, only time will tell the fate of Africa and its HIV/ AIDS epidemic.

coffins_aids a young African child walks past coffins of deceased HIV/AIDS victims.

The Role of the US in the African HIV/AIDS Crisis

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Namibian orphans, some of whose parents fell victim to AIDS, with their caretaker Meme Maria.
Namibian orphans, some of whose parents fell victim to AIDS, with their caretaker Meme Maria.

My goal is to explore US involvement in alleviating the HIV/AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa.  While participating in a ten-week study abroad program to Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana, I learned first-hand how these countries were affected by AIDS.  My focus will be the efforts of government programs (such as PEPFAR and USAID) to address the crisis, and I will compare the policy changes of these programs with the administration change from Bush to Obama. I will assess the dispensation of monetary aid as well as the success of any relief programs being administered in Africa.  I will reference the websites of the programs and assess news articles critiquing the effectiveness of each. I will also interview Furman faculty who have intimate knowledge of this subject.