Transcript AFRICA - Stockton University

AFRICA
Every 25 seconds, another
person in Africa is infected
with HIV.
The Facts
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Aids was first identified in the early 1980s, but the first
case of the disease may have occurred much earlier in Africa in the late 1950s.
Aids (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a
weakening of the immune system by the human
immune deficiency virus, HIV. The sufferer loses the
ability to fight infection, and may fall victim to
illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and tumors.
Aids kills some 6,000 people each day in Africa - more
than wars, famines and floods.
Frightening
AIDS
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Most researchers believe humans acquired Aids from
chimpanzees - which sometimes carry a similar virus - by
eating them or being bitten by them. A minority view holds
that it was spread by a vaccine made from infected
chimpanzee tissue.
There is no cure for Aids, and no vaccine to prevent infection
with HIV, but there are drugs that can slow down the spread
of the virus and the rate at which it weakens the immune
system. In some patients the virus has been reduced to
undetectable levels.
The HIV virus is transmitted in body fluids including blood,
semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. It is most commonly
passed on during sexual intercourse, shared use of
hypodermic needles, or from mother to child. It can also be
transmitted by blood infusion, but not by ordinary social
contact.
The Problem
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According to the UN, Aids is now the number one overall
cause of death in Africa and is in fourth place among all
causes of death worldwide. It's estimated that 2.8 million
people died of Aids in 1999.
Deaths from Aids have been falling in the richest
countries thanks to effective drugs, but in many others
the epidemic continues. The UN estimates that Aids will
kill more than one third of young adults in some parts of
Africa.
The Aids epidemic began in Africa, but in many cases
governments were slow to respond. The problem has
been exacerbated by poverty, illiteracy, weak educational
and public health systems and the low social status of
women.
Can you put a $ on a
life?
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Simple humane support is needed in African
communities.
The prices for these new drugs are more expensive
in Africa than any other country.
Should these billion dollar pharmaceutical
companies have the right to charge these prices? Is
this ethical?
What does this have to
do with Human Rights?
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International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Adopted by
the U.N. General Assembly in 1966. Article 12, it is a right to everyone to enjoy
"the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health."
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The protection and promotion of human rights is necessary both to protect
the inherent dignity of persons affected by HIV/AIDS and to achieve the public
health goals of reducing vulnerability to HIV infection, lessening the adverse
impact of HIV/AIDS on those affected and empowering individuals and
communities to respond to HIV/AIDS.
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The people of Africa are in and environment that does not educate about the
spread of HIV/AIDS. The resources need to be sent there to educate the
people and promote human rights of education, and medicine so that many
people should not have to die.
Africa
 Africa
is an extremely
heterogenous continent, and
human rights violations come in
many forms as well. From
genocide, slavery, mass
disappearances and torture, to
denial of freedom of speech and
of the press.
Africa Stats
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South Africa has one of the highest incidents
of rape in the world
In the home, it is estimated that one in three
married women suffer domestic violence
Women now make up 25 percent of legislators
compared to the 3 percent figure during
apartheid and are aiming to raise their profile
at next year's general election
In several countries, including DRC, Zimbabwe,
Kenya, Liberia, and Ethiopia, individual
activists faced intimidation, arrest, assault,
and sometimes death for their advocacy of
human rights.
Africa Stats
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Maternal mortality rates averaged 606 per 100,000
live births over the period 1980-1992, as compared
with 7 for the U.S. and 351 for all developing
countries.
Each year, an estimated 20 million unsafe abortions
occur. About 78,000 women, the vast majority of
them in developing countries, die from the
consequences of unsafe abortion, and untold
millions suffer severe health effects.
African women do face particularly great
obstacles. Adult female literacy in 1992 was only
45% in sub-Saharan Africa, as compared to a 59%
average for all developing countries
Jails in Djibouti
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According to the information food is
extremely scarce, water is insufficient and
there is no electricity. Cells are extremely
cramped - reportedly 2 metres by 2
metres. Although some inmates have
serious medical conditions visits are
limited to visit from a Doctor twice a
month. Moreover, it is alleged that they
those in need are being denied transfer to
a hospital.
News -Sudan
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Crosswalk.com News Channel - Human
Rights Watch of New York has asked the
Sudanese President Omar Hassan Bashir
to intervene on behalf of a pregnant young
Dinka tribeswoman allegedly involved in
adultery, now sentenced to death by
stoning.