| |
The statistics are heartbreaking.
Terrifying in its scope, globally, over 33 million adults and children are
estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS. In 2007, 2.1 million people died of this
incurable disease. In sub-Saharan Africa, ground zero for the epidemic, nearly
22.5 million adults and children are now living with HIV/AIDS. Last year in
sub-Saharan Africa, there were 1.6 million deaths and 1.7 million new
infections. It is estimated 11 million children have been orphaned in the region
due to the disease. Zimbabwe is one of the most highly infected
countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2007, it was estimated that over 1.3 million
adults and children in Zimbabwe are infected. While there has been some good
news lately in Zimbabwe—new infections have begun to decline—some 21% of adult
women and 15% of adult men are HIV positive. The number of AIDS orphans grew
from one million in 2005 to 1.3 million by 2007. The number of people on
anti-retroviral therapy increased from 25,000 in 2005 to 60,000 in 2006. Last
year, some 100,000 adults and children gained access to life-saving therapy.
Still, that figure represents only 38% of those actually needing the medicine.
Clearly something must be done to address the tragedy and suffering behind
these staggering numbers.
 |
