THE INCIDENCE OF AIDS IN AFRICA
An underdeveloped nation directly devastated by scourging, ravaging AIDS may be
indirectly aided by ignorance to build a pile of coffins for exceedingly vulnerable victims.According to the World Health Organization, about 45 percent of African population is ravaged by HIV/AIDS virus. Acquired immuned deficiency syndromes (AIDS), a viral disease which affects the body’s immune system was first identified in the United states of America about1981.
The virus which is transmitted mainly through blood transfusion and sexual intercourse first manifested in homosexual. Infected victims usually develop a condition referred to as AIDS Related Complex (ARC) and AIDS which has reached epidemic proportions in Africa today.
Among the several hypotheses of its origin is that, which claims that the eating of gorilla in East Africa which results in occasional blood transfusion from the gorilla to the devourer is the main reason for the epidemic in Africa. Differently put, Africa is seen as the matrix of this deadly disease. This seems to explain why whole villages were decimated in East Africa as far back as 1980s. Chauvinistic Africans on their own part contend that infected Western tourists spread the disease in East Africa which is noted for the safari-a favourite haunt of European and American tourists who in the course of their visits transmitted the disease to their African sex partners.
It could be deduced that the alarming rate of the epidemics in South and Southern Africa is due to the presence of white settlers.This part of world like East Africa has been drastically affected by this disease which could be compared to the holocaust of the World War 11 or even the biblical plague.It would seem that HIV/AIDS spread is uneven in Africa.
Unfortunately, superstition, poverty and ignorance have stoked the spread of this virus in these parts. Most victims would rather believe that they have been poisoned or fallen prey to witchcraft than seek medical help is very expensive.Countries in North Africa and infact most Muslim Countries have very few cases of the disease. This could be due to the strict Muslim tenets which frown seriously on prostitution and Western permissiveness.
This, however, does not appear to be the case in Nigeria where many AIDS cases have been in Muslim, Northern part of the Country.This may be related to the practice of homosexuality in some of these areas.In the main AIDS is increasing at an alarming rate in Nigeria with seven reported case in 1988, 305 cases in 1991.By the year 2000, about 3.4million Nigerians were reported to be HIV positive.
With the rate of awareness increasing, the rate of promiscuity and philandering is on the decrease. Inspite of the recent controversial claims of curing HIV/AIDS, the Nigerian of 21st century is apprised of safe sex as well as the relative curbing of indiscriminate sexual relationships. One no longer reckons with the male propaganda of AIDS scare as a component of the noted old wives tales aimed at keeping the men house bound.
Surely,the reality of HIV/AIDS has rubbed off on both homosexual and heterosexual patterns.The incurable disease which has defied medical research stands out bestriding on the most vulnerable impoverished African nation with 22.4 million HIV positive men and women in the sub-saharan region,out of which a myriad of orphaned children born to HIV infected mothers are staring at a bleak future with a fuzzy vision.