The HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic is fueling a widening and increasingly deadly famine in southern Africa. The African famine is an example of how the impact of HIV reaches beyond the loss of life and health care costs traditionally associated with disease.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of HIV-positive individuals. In the predominantly agricultural societies in South Africa, the populations are battling serious AIDS epidemics, with more than 5 million adults currently living with AIDS out of a total adult population of 26 million. A total of 600,000 children under 15 living with HIV infection.
AIDS is combining with other factors, including droughts, floods, and in some cases short-sighted national and international policies, to cause a steady fall in agricultural production and to cut deeply into household income. Seven million agricultural workers in 25 African countries have died of AIDS since 1985.
Question
1. In order to minimize the number of deaths in the six agricultural countries significantly affected by AIDS-related deaths, what would be your first priority among the activities listed below? Assume you have the financial resources to complete only one objective. Explain the rationale for your choice.
a. Provide antiretroviral therapy to those showing signs of AIDS.
b. Educate the public on the importance of consistent and correct condom use.
c. Set up a research center designed to develop an HIV vaccine.
d. Provide food to those who are currently starving.
e. Educate the surviving populace about how to develop a sustainable agricultural system.