The impact on Life Expectancy Essay Example for Free

The impact on Life Expectancy Essay AIDS has also caused the life expectancy rate to fall by 5 years since the start in 1900s. In Swaziland life expectancy has fallen to 33 which would have been 66 if there was no AIDS. Life expectancy also affects child mortality as there are many children who are born with the infection. Adults between the age group of 20 and 49 years are the worst affected. This group is about 60% of the sub-Saharan population which has increased from 20% between 1985 and 1900. This affects the prime working years of an adults life. This also removes the very people who could be responding to treatments and healthcare. The Economic Impact AIDS has affected the human development by impacting laborers, households and companies. It therefore damages the economy and the country finds it difficult to handle the epidemic. HIV and AIDS reduces the labour supply and increases mortality and illnesses. The government income also falls, tax revenues are cut and they are forced to spend more on dealing with the spread of the economy. The epidemic affects diversification of industries, exports and foreign investments which is very important for a country’s progress. Most of the countries struggle to meet their economic measures because they are still struggling with the epidemic as their GDP is affected which builds over a period of time. The ARV coverage of the drug needs to expand and reach more people than the economic growth rate will not reduce that fast. The Future impact of HIV/AIDS In future the aids epidemic will continue to expand because work in progress has not been able to sufficiently arrest the spread of the crisis. Domestic as well as international agencies are doing their best to extend healthcare and treatment to the millions affected with aids worldwide. Many people affected with AIDS are still not receiving the necessary treatments and campaigns have been unsuccessful in preventing new infections. The progress of the general development of infrastructure largely depends on problems such as poverty and poor public health. The main barrier to Africa’s progress and development is the impact of AIDS on all areas of functionality as discussed before. Africa can look forward to the future only if they can prevent and treat the HIV AIDS epidemic effectively and also care for the people affected by it. Science and Research According to UNAIDS Following are some of the steps in research that is being undertaken to prevent the spread of the HIV AIDS epidemic. The area of biomedical research makes use of humans to test drugs, vaccines and techniques that can be used to cure the epidemic. There are many ethical issues that is attached to it as complexities and advances in the research takes place. The 1964, Declaration of Helsinki sets out ethical guidelines and code of conduct for the research involved such as the use of animals for testing. The use of female condom, help prevent unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases including the spread of HIV. These cheaper brands available have the capacity to be accepted and utilized worldwide. Male circumcision also helps in reducing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases from men to women if it is implemented in the safe way where there is consent. Research also involves the development of microbicide which is a gel or cream which can be applied to the vagina giving women greater control when men don’t want to use condoms. These microbicides will help prevent unwanted pregnancies as well will prevent the spread of the HIV. The other area of research is the use of vaccines. However there are many laboratories and companies involved in its development and are working towards making a breakthrough in the field. Conclusion The impact of the HIV AIDS epidemic is not only restricted to sub-Saharan and African countries but it is an international crisis. The international community along with research companies needs to get more involved in preventing the spread of the epidemic as well as the rehabilitation of the patients that are affected. We need to work more aggressively to arrest the disaster that is waiting to spread across the globe. Works Cited AVERT. ORG. Impact of HIV AIDS on Africa. Viewed on 12 February 2008 and https://www.avert.org/global-hiv-and-aids-statistics