How can we help people realize how HIV/AIDS impacts children in developing nations?

Answer 1

Because there have been so many advancements in the United States with protease inhibitors and other drugs to fight HIV/AIDS and extend the lives of people affected by it, perhaps some think of this disease as one that has a control, if not a cure. AIDS-fighting drugs are enormously expensive, though, and I think their effectiveness on children is still being studied. The best solution for people in both the developed and underdeveloped nations is to avoid contracting the virus.

In many parts of the world, there is a tremendous stigma associated with having HIV/AIDS. Bearing this illness as a secret allows infection rates to grow and causes many not to seek treatment. It becomes a cycle of illness and death, but this cycle must be broken. In addition to funding research into an HIV vaccine, there are immediate steps that can be taken.

When I think of what it means to be a child affected by HIV/AIDS, I imagine a preteen girl who has lost both of her parents, struggling to take care of younger siblings. For her, going to school, making the most of her abilities and moving forward in society becomes all but impossible.

I imagine infants, toddlers and other very young children with no one to care for them, placed in overcrowded orphanages where a harried and overworked staff tries their best just to keep them alive. Other children who do not have surviving family and who are not in orphanages are simply left to fend for themselves. These are not children who will be cuddled, read to, allowed to run and play or simply enjoy the carefree pleasures of being a child.

I imagine two million children who are part of the AIDS pandemic, many who will die long before they become adults.

This tragedy is unnecessary and is preventable.

Through AIDS education, infection rates in those ranging from preteens to young adults can be dramatically reduced, with the goal of prevention.

Through improved medical care, transmission of the AIDS virus from a pregnant mother to her child can be eliminated through the use of antiretroviral drugs.

Through establishing a safe and nurturing environment for orphans, including shelter, proper nutrition, education and medical care, those with HIV/AIDS will have the best chance for extending their lives and those orphaned by the disease will have a far better chance at becoming independent and knowledgeable adults who will no longer be a part of the AIDS cycle.

Thank you, India, for using your celebrity to bring attention to this international health crisis.

Answer 2

We can help people realize how HIV/AIDS impacts children in developing nations by preparing docu-dramas, showcasing the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. It would be good to have a non-profit org. select some developing countries to perform testing services at no cost to the people as there may be a high percentage of people who just dont know they have the virus. They will probably never know until it is too late and they have infected countless others...simply because they could not afford the cost of the test. Surprisingly, there are still many misconceptions about the virus, it's transmission, it's treatment and it's impact on communities.

Answer 3

I would say, that although there's been a plethora of media attention on the plight of HIV/Aids, it's been as detrimental, as it is helpful. We're bombarded, daily, with negative news on a global scale and that only serves to make many ppl want to pull in the rug and shut the door....

People DO realize the impact these diseases have on not only children, but on lives. If you really want to have any sort of help (I"m assuming you want help, not just realization), then you've got to put it in our own backyard and give some solutions as to what the ordinary person can do. Otherwise, it's just another blog, just another blip on the screen of life.

And if you want to get down to the bottom line, we're all sad about bad news, but we've got our own struggles right here, that have no solution. Some of us have no health care, some of us wonder where are meals are going to come from, when that medical bill shows up. Some of us struggle to pay our heating costs. It's just a fact. If you lived in a average or poor neighborhood, you'd know that while we can be sympathetic, it sure doesn't pay the bills and sure doesn't keep you warm. That's the bottom line.

Answer 4

I believe that all honest thought is a prayer. Journalism at best only approximates reality and true realization comes with first- hand observation or experience. With travel around the world becoming increasingly cheaper and faster, HIV/AIDS is quickly evolving into a worldwide predicament. We as human beings do not react with urgency until the problem is literally in our backyard. When we use terms search as the developing nations (rightly so because they are the most affected mainly due to poor infrastructure) we lull people outside this nations into a false assumption that it is not a problem with potential to directly affect them. They therefor do not give it priority or any determined address. The other obstacle is a lack of followup information/ transparency on the use of funds donated for charitable causes. Majority of people read tabloids (covering sensational hyped up stories that add to the truth - any addition to the truth is a subtraction from it) and there is an increase of awareness on corruption in developing nations. If people are giving aid that never reaches it's desired/ promised destination why should they bother? A lot of people do not do any research and I feel that this information needs to be readily available in public places (educational facilities, libraries, community halls etc) emphasizing that today it is mainly their problem but it could easily become ours or our childrens if left unchecked.

Answer 5

I don't know if developing nations have HIV/AIDS awareness programs such as Planned Parenthood,a health class in school addressing this issue, pamphlets handed out to everyone about protected sex,IV drug use.Education is a must..if people don't know how to prevent AIDS...more children will be born infected.HIV medication has come a long way in helping people with AIDS live a longer and better life.However these drugs are very expensive and not everyone can afford them.
Maybe young women and men should be shown videos of children affected with the AIDS virus....maybe this would impact them on an emotional level.This is really a very tough issue and I don't have a solution.

Answer 6

if developing nations have HIV/AIDS awareness programs such as Planned Parenthood,a health class in school addressing this issue, pamphlets handed out to everyone about protected sex,IV drug use.Education is a must..if people don't know how to prevent AIDS...more children will be born infected.HIV medication has come a long way in helping people with AIDS live a longer and better life.However these drugs are very expensive and not everyone can afford them.
Maybe young women and men should be shown videos of children affected with the AIDS virus....maybe this would impact them on an emotional level.This is really a very tough issue and I don't have a solution.

Answer 7

I Think That They Should Start Informing More People Before HIV/AIDS Gets To An Out Of Control Epidemic.

Answer 8

I think people already know the impact of HIV/aids on the children in developing nations but a lot of people feel like out of sight out mind. If it is not affecting them directly then it is not a problem. There should be more advertisements about what is going in places where people go everyday

Answer 9

HIV?AIDS is I must say it has held up nations with its virus and its rapid increase.I personally feel that every individual should be responsible in taking a initiative to help others and the nation. People should be realized how dangerous is the disease and its effects. Many organizations should work voluntarily as a group and fight against it. Media should come forward in making small documentaries which should make people think about the issue seriously. Some celebrities who have large following should campaign about the disease. The Government should release more funds for the people and who are suffering and help them to cure. Every person who is suffering from it should awake the people by describing the situation they are going through as the awakening factor for others. As its the disease which is from parents to children and so on. This means its killing the present generation. Its stopping the nation for further development.Its creating a barrier which is restricting to go further. The present genera is not growing that means the nation is not growing and loosing its identity which no nation would want to. Hence the above mentioned things should be implemented to be a successful story.

Answer 10

The honus is on us, the developed nations children. Unfortunately, we will have to answer many world problems but at the forefront is the crisis in africa. When I ask the question of how many people in africa are dying of AIDS often I get the response of "I have no clue." Word of mouth is the answer to your question, if more people knew that 40 percent of some countries in africa were diagnosed with HIV then I truly believe some movement would be afoot. However, with most of the modernized world not caring nor choosing to learn about the plight of the emerging nations we will never be able to reach a mass audience. Word of mouth is the only way in which we can learn the masses about this tragedy. The honus is on me and you, the children who were taught that we are able to change the world. We do have the power, the problem is that too many are complacent to live our everyday lives in ignorance.

Answer 11

I think we need to clear up the misconception of how it is being spread to children. More often than not, here in the U.S., if a child has HIV it is because it was passed to them through their mother when they were born, but in Africa, for example, it can be from something as simple as the family sharing a toothbrush.
I think people have the idea that shipping boxes of condoms over and showing people how to use them would solve the problem, but their lack of education on the spreading of HIV is far beyond just needing "safe sex" and clean needles.
They need to be educated, and to do that we must first educate ourselves on why it is such a problem. It wasn't until a spoke with friends who had been there that I realized what was going on. We hear about the problem all the time, but no one takes the time to explain why it is a problem.