Understanding the Global Crisis

AIDS infections have paralyzed Lozio Kiwanuka's left arm. Six months ago, he could not stand. He is now receiving home visits from Mengo Hospital staff, and he has regained enough strength to walk again.

As of today, there is NO CURE for AIDS. According to most recent estimate, there are over thirty three million people infected with HIV/AIDS worldwide, with sub-Saharan Africa home to nearly twenty two million infected people. Every day in Africa, a region ravaged by years of political instability, war, famine and poverty, over 4,000 people die of AIDS.

Access to anti-retrovirals drugs which are essential to prolonging life remain out of reach for far too many people still. In addition, the lack of food, access to clean drinking water, and basic medicines significantly decrease the ability of the body to fight the disease. Around the world, millions of people go without any sort of treatment, and many are not even aware of their HIV-status. As of 2005, only 9% of infected pregnant women in low and middle-income countries had access to antiretroviral prophylaxis that would prevent the disease from being passed from mother to infant.

The majority of those infected are adults of working age, decimating the work force of countries with struggling economies. Orphans of parents who have died of AIDS are often left with grandparents and extended family members who have difficulty providing food and care for them. Child-led households are common and there are over twelve million orphans in Africa.

HIV-infection rates continue to rise in other parts of the world e.g. Eastern Europe and Asia. In Asia, the estimated number of people living with HIV in Viet Nam has more than doubled between 2000 and 2005, and Indonesia has the fastest growing epidemic.

In Our Own Backyard: Vancouver

Canada is not immune to the HIV-virus. The latest statistics show that over 56,000 Canadians are currently HIV-positive. And there are over 4,200 new cases every year which is the equivalent of one Canadian every two hours. In British Columbia alone, there are over 12,000 people infected, 85% of whom live in Greater Vancouver.

Historically, HIV/AIDS has been most prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM) however the face of HIV/AIDS continues to change. Other at risk groups include: aboriginal people, women, youth, and injection drug users. Aboriginal groups are overrepresented in terms of new cases given the proportion of the general population they represent. Like in the rest of the world, a response to HIV/AIDS in the local context demands a comprehensive plan that examines numerous issues including: poverty, access to affordable housing, and drug and other substance abuse. In the Vancouver HIV/AIDS community, there are long waiting lists for both palliative care beds and hospice care facilities.