It has been almost 30 years since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first recognized Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS, and in those 30 years, it is confirmed that more than 25 million people have died from the disease.
In North America, an estimated 1.4 million people were living with AIDS at the end of 2008, compared with 850,000 in Western Europe and only 59,000 in Oceania. It seems that AIDS is still a problem in the west, however, not surprisingly; the figures are dwarfed in comparison to sub-Saharan Africa.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of AIDS in the world, where an estimated 22.4 million people are suffering from the disease, making up around two-thirds of the planet’s total infected (33.4 million people).
1.4 million people in the region died of AIDS in 2008 alone. Africa is home to over 14 million AIDS orphans.
The huge differences can be attributed to the availability and cost of contraception, treatment and life-saving medications. However the statistics can be misleading when comparing countries – particularly the United States – with less prosperous economies.
You have to look no further than our nation’s capital; Washington D.C. to find an AIDS infection rate of 3%, along with the country’s highest mortality rate from HIV/AIDS, and the lowest life expectancy in the United States.
On a more positive note, Washington D.C. is to become the first city to distribute free condoms to women in order to help curb infection rates.
Global trends indicate that the disease is still very much on the rise. Whatever your position in life, and whether the AIDS epidemic has seemed too great a problem to contemplate, please consider donating charities such as Avert, or by making people aware of those battling aids and put together a free giveaway such as candies tied with red ribbons and an inspirational message.
AIDS won’t forget about us.
