HIV/AIDS Discrimination and Injustice

1006 Words3 Pages

Since the first cases of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in 1981, over 36 million people have died from the disease’s progression from HIV to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, scientists generally accept that the HIV virus started in a specific type of chimpanzee in Western Africa. HIV weakens the patient’s immune system by “destroying important cells that fight disease and infection.” After HIV is acquired, progresses, and grows it turns into a much more lethal stage, AIDS. Because their immune system is heavily damaged and virtually incompetent, AIDS patients is increasingly susceptible to other infections. If medical attention is not provided for an AIDS victim, they will almost certainly die (“What Is HIV/AIDS?”). In this recent and ongoing AIDS epidemic, about 75 million people have been infected with the virus, causing 36 million deaths; but there is hope because organizations like the Samaritan’s Purse are doing their best to combat the disease.
AIDS affects much of the world today; as of 2009, two million people have died from the disease (“What Is AIDS/HIV?”). There are two types of HIV which means that it is much harder to cure; however, since HIV-2 is usually only found in Africa, there is no real need to test for it in other parts of the world (“What Is AIDS/HIV”). The most affected country is Africa because Africa has the least amount of resources to combat the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) has actually started using door-to-door testing methods in countries with huge epidemics like Uganda and Kenya (“HIV testing and counselling”). Though many AIDS patients who receive treatment will still die, their life will be prolonged...

... middle of paper ...

...14. .

"Samaritan’s Purse Seeks a "Prescription for Hope" Among Christian HIV/AIDS Workers in Africa." Samaritan's Purse Seeks a "Prescription for Hope" Among Christian HIV/AIDS Workers in Africa. Demoss, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. .

Samaritans Purse. Samaritan's Purse, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. .

Voisin, Sarah L. "Franklin Graham: In Response to People Living with HIV/AIDS, like Jesus, We Have to Reach to Them, Love Them and Heal Them - OnFaith." OnFaith. FaithStreet, 23 July 2012. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.

More about HIV/AIDS Discrimination and Injustice

Open Document