|
AIDS in Africa is the single greatest threat to Africa’s efforts to
reach its full potential. It has taken the lives of over 15 million
Africans, has left over 34.3 million infected, and continues to be the
leading cause of death in Africa. AIDS has impacted Africa’s economy,
society, and education greatly. HIV infected Africans are rarely
treated and usually die because of the unaffordable prices
pharmaceutical companies are putting on their therapeutic drugs. Many
scholars speculate that if this deadly epidemic does not decline, then
it could lead to the downfall of the second largest continent in the
world.
AIDS is damaging many country’s economies throughout Africa. AIDS
related deaths reduce the skilled labor force and cause a shortage of
workers. Studies show that by the year 2005, urban based sectors in
Africa will lose an average of about thirty percent of their employees
to AIDS. Also by the year 2005, AIDS is expected to cost South Africa
one percent of its gross domestic product and use up seventy-five
percent of the nation’s health budget. Currently, AIDS is now the main
reason for workers to be leaving their jobs. Companies throughout
Africa are losing workers and money to AIDS, which is making a big
impact on the economy.
AIDS has changed African society in a great way. A quote from Nelson
Mandella sums up the problems very well. Mandella states, “AIDS kills
those on whom society relies to grow the crops, work in the mines and
factories, run the schools and hospitals and govern counties… It
creates new pockets of poverty when parents die and children leave
school early to support the remaining children.” A big problem in
African society created by AIDS is homeless children who have lost
parents to AIDS. In Zimbabwe, officials say there are any where between
six hundred thousand and one million orphans. These children drop out
of school and end up hurting the society.
AIDS is now devastating Africa’s education system. In Kenya alone last year, one thousand five hundred teachers died last year.
|
|
|
(0 vote)