Global Epidemic

The epidemic of HIV (human immune deficiency virus) which causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is one the leading global problems the human race has encountered in the battle for our survival. The distinction of HIV/AIDS to be communicable and at the same time incurable, make this disease a worldwide threat. This incurable disease is now rated as one of the top contenders as a large scale disease in a worldwide epidemic. One of the most vulnerable human characteristic to this disease is the fact that it can be transmitted sexually between to partners. This presents a major problem do to the fact that our initial reproduction can transmit the HIV virus.

The rate at which the disease spreads is high enough to rule out any possible means of containing the virus which is in turn is beginning to threatening our survival. The HIV/AIDS disease has one known trait, over time it proves fatal even with advanced treatments. Some cases of HIV are caught early and can be treated to avoid the onset of AIDS, but the inevitable truth reveals that over time the disease eventually takes over the human immune system. As of right now there are no known cures or vaccinations. Much like cancer HIV/AIDS is not without a valid threat to humans.

HIV/AIDS is easily spread from sexual intercourse, blood transfusions, and infected intravenous needles. The disease can also be spread from mother to fetus from prenatal transmission and rarely through breast milk. These factors threaten our survival because they are part of our survival. Unlike the dismantling of the cancer cell, which can often be caused by long term chemical exposures and considered non transferable from human contact, HIV presents a more disturbing problem.

The cold hearted reality of this epidemic is there is currently no way to stop the outbreak or even cure the infected. Mooney, Knox, Schacht, and the East Carolina University validate statistics stating, “HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among adult’s ages 15-59 years worldwide. HIV/AIDS has killed more than 20 million people, and in 2004 nearly 40 million people worldwide were living with HIV infection.” {Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 2004; World Health Organization2004} (Page 39). Mooney Knox, Schacht, and the East Carolina University also continue by stating, “In 2003 Africa was home to two thirds of the world’s people living with HIV/AIDS” (Page 39).

The conflict of HIV/AIDS is clear, but we cannot just stigmatize the growing population now infected with the virus. The main goal or objective in beating the disease depends on human understanding, research, technology, and funding. Joining forces around the world is the only means of insuring the unity to one day defeat this outbreak. Many people have contributed to worldwide organizations to raise money for the funding and research to fight HIV/AIDS. The well known singer from the band U2, known as Bono, has been one of the major contributors to fighting the epidemic. He currently travels world wide raising money to fund programs and research that may one day defeat disease. As a famous musician, Bono’s efforts fund much of the awareness to the disease and help fight against the epidemic.

Much like the struggle to defeat cancer the struggle to defeat HIV/AIDS has become a high priority in the world. The current problem we all face is a divided obligation being we are all undivided in the risk of exposure. Still because of current social dilemmas, lack of education funding and research, and unavailable and expensive medications this battle is far from conclusion. These problems can often be linked to other problems in society that affect everyone. Pete Stark states his view by analysis of insurance companies and health providers, “To maximize profits and shareholder confidence, insurance companies, health care providers, and drug companies, have manipulated the system beyond comprehension” (02/06/2006). Another profit margin based problem in the worldwide health care struggle is TRIPS, (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights). Mooney, Knox, Schacht, and the East Carolina University state, “Trips limits the availability of generic drugs, thus contributing to higher drug cost.” Obviously this problem will directly affect the poor and those with no current health care benefits. Lack of funding and education are on the side of the HIV/AIDS virus. One continuing problem is that many politicians overlook this epidemic as an important critical issue. At times many issues that are often easier to digest publicly will consume political debates.

Many voters being tax payers often can’t see through the initial candy coating politics to the real threatening dilemmas that often go ignored. In general, our only approach to battling this disease is similar to the battle for cancer. We must fund research, medical assistance, and public education to decrease the spread of the disease. Another issue which directly relates to the disease is its natural tendency to hit povershed nations the hardest. This may be because of overpopulation as well as lack of education and health care in these areas. Either way eliminating poverty on a worldwide scale could improve statistics and should always be an idealistic goal around the world. These issues are directly related to the human condition in the world.

The crisis of are survival is at stake especially when there is need for medical provision and lack of enthusiasm to promote it. Though cures for HIV and many diseases are currently not available, some of these diseases may one day be curable with proper funding and research. Barash and Webel state, “Another example of structural violence we frequently see in this country is our fellow human beings suffer from preventable diseases” (2002). Health care issues tend to hit people equally hard throughout the world, because simply ignoring these issues is often the same as promoting structural violence in society. The truth is globally we can battle these problems more effectively with less division and trade embargos which lead to political division and onset of wars. If we continue to oppose resolutions to these problems our only alternative may be our own demise from incurable diseases and lack of our own humanity.

The fight against HIV/AIDS entirely based on time being the underlying factor. Our dilemma giving in to the question “can we beat the disease before it beats us”? The earlier statistics reported in the year 2004 were based on the facts available since the original discovery of the HIV/AIDS outbreak. In about a twenty year period we saw statistics double to a rate of forty million known infected and twenty million causalities. In four years and with new findings we could see the total case count hit seventy million.

At that rate we could expect it’s safe to say seventy million times a double in statistics every ten years would equal an outrageous statistic. Without doubling the numbers we could assume if things continue as is, we could easily see 140 million people infected or deceased from HIV/AIDS by the year 2030. One fact continues to hold its baring; HIV/AIDS will not discriminate by any means. So our main weapon of defense is to do the same and morally unite without diversion. Simply stated we have become our own worst enemy in the struggle against incurable diseases and other health related issues in the world.

Education continues to be one of the most effective ways of battling the disease and new outbreaks. We know that abstinence, the use of condoms, decreased sexual partners, and clean medical equipment and intravenous supplies along with proper testing procedures are effective means of prevention. Some problems we often face are often seized as morality issues from institutions that do not want to be responsible for promoting sex or drug use to people. In truth they are failing to see the issue as stopping the spread of the disease, and are trying to conservatively ignore unpopular political issues.

A good example as stated by Mooney, Knox, Schacht and the East Carolina University, “Providing education that advocates condom use and providing the youth with access to condoms are controversial topics” “Many conservatives believe that promoting condoms sends the wrong message, that sex outside marriage is ok” (page62). Mooney Knox, Schacht and the East Carolina University also state, “Another controversy involves the question of rather to provide condoms to prison inmates” (Page62). It may be imperative for these conservatives to wake up and deal with the upcoming concerns and statistics before ruling out this idea entirely. A conservative approach in the defense of the issue of spreading condoms is, “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.” This could be a valid statement for spreading condoms for use with a clear conscious.

Another idea that seemed appropriate is more medical institutions that offer needle exchange programs on sight. To the extent of needle exchange, we must all realize that the assumed illegal activity is taking place; the major concerns should now be to save lives. At the same time our options are extremely limited. Most people would agree that two wrongs will never make a right, so it would make sense to stop the spread of the disease and ask the morality questions later.

Infection of HIV from intravenous heroin use is rapidly increasing due to the sharing of infected needles. Mooney, Knox, Schacht, and The East Carolina University state, “To reduce the transmission of HIV among injection drug users, their sex partners, and their children, some countries and the U.S. communities have established needle exchange programs( also known as syringe exchange programs) which provide new sterile syringes in exchange for used, contaminated syringes” (Page 63). The health facilities provide drug addiction information to these people as well as support in detoxification. It may be necessary to protect their identity to insure their continuing support in stopping the spread of the disease. Any way these ideas are presented to the public they offer no initial way to candy coat these topics, but people need to be aware of these issues and the overall effects of spreading HIV/AIDS.

The justification of morals may not outweigh the effects of the spread of HIV/AIDS any where in the world. Many factors can initially aid in the fight against the spread of infection, but the most prominent may very well be medical interaction worldwide. Confidential testing, medical assistance, and treatments need to be readily available to everyone worldwide. Mooney, Knox, Schacht, and The East Carolina University states, “In the first four years after antiviral medication was introduced in Europe and North America, death rates for HIV/AIDS in those regions fell by 80% and under Brazil’s program to provide universal access to antiviral therapy the average survival time of people with AIDS rose from less than six months to at least five years {World Health Organization 2004}.

The statistics show that health intervention and available medications are effective and available to many communities, but need funding and resource to provide assistance and support in the programs. A cure for HIV/AIDS definitely needs to be researched as well as funded. A known fact is that HIV/AIDS actually affects the white blood cells and initially opens the immune system with little or no resistance against most illnesses including the common cold.

The disease is actually known as a blood disorder and any means of dialysis treatments may be far too expensive and impractical due to the fact that one infected cell can re-spread the virus throughout the circulatory system. HIV itself is incurable, but AIDS may be preventable if detection is early on. Many researchers believe a series of transfusions along with the right conjunction of vaccines, antibiotics, and antihistamines, sometimes called a cocktail may actually decrease infection rates and one day may prove an effective start for curing HIV/AIDS. Of course the amount of blood necessary, say 40 million times two, and the risk of complications during transfusions may prove the idea irrational on a large scale.

At this time the sufficient evidence needed to convince health care providers has not yet been attained to promote this idea. If this would be possible in the complete elimination of the disease I am sure many people would comply. Personally I believe many people would see it as a moral human justification to comply with any efforts in helping the people in need of medical intervention. Of course there is no proof the idea would cure the disease entirely or that it would not return shortly after.

HIV/AIDS itself benefits no one in the world today. Any possible means to destroy the disease and save lives by finding a cure should be taken to ensure a better future. Our existence may very well be threatened by the fact the spread of HIV is easy, and the detection of infection is often extremely hard because many people never know they acquired the disease, and wouldn’t submit to testing either way. As a world wide epidemic our complete extinction may some day be at hand. So morals, norms, and beliefs, need to be adjusted world wide to insure our survival.

The rise in infections and the spread of the disease is far too rapid for us to gamble with variable statistics. Many people actually believe incurable diseases such as HIV/AIDS may be the earth’s way of fighting back against the overpopulation and the destructiveness of the human race. This may be more of a radical thought, yet our population has increased dramatically in the last one hundred years. The truth is our time may be limited here on earth.

It is important for us to understand these things because the here and now is our day, but soon the day may once again belong to the earth. Rather our creator has insured this inevitable fact as a definite end to a cruel means, the truth of the problem still prevails, and the idea of our fabricated demise may not be far from rational thought, in a great realm of cultural ideas. HIV/AIDS is a social problem that is now affecting everyone worldwide, and needs to be addressed as soon as possible, not just as a virus, but as a large scale epidemic. The seriousness of the issue continues to grow, as the plague gains massive proportion in our world. It may be important for the future of the human race to deviate away from our own narrow minded behaviors and read between the lines to target this issue immediately. If in the future, we fail to gain victory over HIV/AIDS, the inevitable truth may present itself, and the earth may one day see its day without the human race.