Women, Girls, HIV and
AIDS is the theme of the 2004 World AIDS day. Around the world there are
many different ways in which HIV and AIDS affect women . Among them are
:
* Transmission. HIV/AIDS has been thought of
in the past as a disease mainly affecting gay men or drug users. In fact,
in 2004, most HIV infections come from heterosexual sex. And in
heterosexual sex, women are more likely to become infected than are
men.
* Mother to child transmission of HIV accounted
for 90% of all babies infected in 2003. A drug is cheaply available to
greatly reduce the chances of this occurring, but it fails to be provided
to many women around the world. HIV can also be transmitted by breast
milk, which is easily substituted for artificial alternatives – also,
often unavailable.
* Sexual violence is an issue
affecting women everywhere in the world. It can be even more damaging when
it involves the transmission, sometimes deliberate, of HIV. A new and
alarming phenomenon that has been seen in the past decade is the use of
HIV as a weapon of war. In conflict areas such as Rwanda and Kosovo there
have been reports of thousands of women being raped and purposely infected
with HIV as part of a campaign of 'ethnic
cleansing'.
* Discrimination is an issue which has
affected women for many decades. It can impact on their job prospects,
their economic and social position, their access to healthcare and
education. Women who have HIV may experience discrimination on two fronts,
and if the healthcare services discriminate against them, their lives can
be shortened as a result.
* Men are the most common
route of HIV transmission to women. In fact, most women infected with HIV
have caught the virus from a husband or partner.
In order for HIV
to be effectively tackled on an international level, efforts need to be
made to
* End the discrimination against people
with HIV and AIDS.
* Educate people in safer sex and
drug use, using appropriate media.
* Provide condoms
freely to people in the developing world.
* Provide
financial and medical assistance so that people with HIV and AIDS can be
treated.
Started in 1988, World AIDS Day is not just about raising
money, but also about raising awareness, education and fighting prejudice.
World AIDS Day is also important in reminding people that HIV has not gone
away, and that there are many things still to be
done. |
