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AIDS

Uganda: AIDS
May 15, 2009
Lauren Gerth


 

 

         Uganda is one of the first countries in sub-Sahara Africa to experience the impact of AIDS.  It is also one of the first countries to take control of the issue.  There are currently an estimated 940,000 people living with HIV in Uganda, and 1.2 million children who have been orphaned by AIDS (Avert.org).  AIDS has had a huge impact on Uganda, it has killed approximately one million people, and significantly reduced life expectancy. The people of Uganda have decided to take a stand and fight against the disease that has orphaned thousands of children and weakened their health services.

          AIDS has had a huge impact on Uganda.  Because of AIDS many children have lost parents and many parents have lost their children.  “If someone in Uganda tells you they haven’t been affected by HIV/AIDS they’re lying” (Jennifer Bakyawa).  Women are affected majorly by AIDS, representing 59% of those affected by AIDS in Uganda.  Young women in Uganda are nine times more likely than young men to be HIV positive (Kaiser, Henry).

    Adult life expectancy currently is at 48.9 years, although it is said to be 56.9 years without AIDS. AIDS is cited among the leading causes of poverty in the country, the NHSBS estimated a total of 2.18 million Ugandan orphans by end of 2005, about 47% of these are due to AIDS. (aidsuganda.org)

 
         Throughout the years Uganda has come up with ways to prevent this epidemic from getting bigger and killing more people.  Uganda has been using an approach to prevent AIDS from being passed sexually.  This method is called the ABC approach- first they encourage Abstinence, then they advise those who are sexually active to Be faithful to their partner, and they also encourage people to use Condoms.  To prevent this disease from being passed from mother to child they offer free classes for mothers, and they have many organizations such as AVERT (Avert.org).  Uganda has made a huge improvement using the ABC approach and by helping young adults become aware of the AIDS epidemic.