HIV/AIDS

    For my project for MDGs we were studying about the MDGs 6-8. I wrote my essay on MDG 6, which is to combat HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this essay was to influence someone to take action about HIV. I learned that HIV cannot be passed on by touching someone, but is passed on by unsafe sex. The part of this project that was the most challenging was trying to find examples of a country doing well with HIV. Uganda was having a big problem, but has found a way to improve. The thing I am most proud of is my picture and whom I chose to draw. The part that I loved about this is trying to find ways to spread the word for preventing HIV. The thing that was most interesting to me was that young men are the highest percent of people who are HIV positive. I learned that many people and countries are trying to cope with HIV I also learned that a lot of countries won’t even talk about people having HIV/AIDS and they won’t allow their country to have an open discussion because they are scared.

AA, Magic Johnson HIV. (2015.)

     “When the millennium development goals (MDGs) were devised, AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis killed approximately 6 million people each year. World leaders felt it was imperative to have a goal dedicated to tackling this deadly trio” (Kironde). This means that every year 6 million people die from a disease. Some people are afraid to undergo medical tests especially when they know they are at risk of HIV. An examination of spirituality, acceptance and emotional support from the family and relatives will help them overcome this fear. How is HIV spread throughout the world?

When it was 1981 a very recognized syndrome was created. Many people think that HIV can get passed to people by touching them but it can’t. “Since its discovery, AIDS has caused an estimated 36 million deaths worldwide. In 2013 it resulted in about 1.34 million deaths.” This means that since the thing was created over 36 million people died worldwide of a disease. “HIV/AIDS has had a great impact on society, both as an illness and as a source of discrimination.” Even since HIV and or AIDS was founded it impacted society because it was a disease.

Uganda is doing really well with the disease. “Traditionally the government, supported by its international partners as well as local non-government organizations and the community has borne the brunt of the costs of containing the epidemic in Uganda.” This means that the government and the non-government both supported the costs of containing the epidemic in Uganda. In South Africa, AIDS is a great problem. South Africa is developing its options to tackle HIV/Aids over next 20 years. HIV/AIDS has had devastating impacts in many other countries, Uganda in particular. However, Uganda is depicted as one of the most successful countries in fighting HIV/AIDS. “Uganda's success story is attributed to the open general environment which allows open discussions surrounding HIV/AIDS when other countries, such as South Africa and Kenya, denied the existence of the disease in their countries.” (Result). This means that the country made a decision that they want to talk about it. In Uganda they built social capital, this means building the community with conversations. They had people in the community and all of the non profits talk to each other about their experiences with AIDS. They reduced being promiscuous and wife sharing by 90%. This should help reduce HIV. These safe sex techniques in Uganda are important because “The HIV/AIDS epidemic is likely to remain the pre-eminent global health concern for the foreseeable future.” This means that the diseases are still going to be a trouble in the future.

Perhaps we can learn from Uganda in the US. The Uganda model showed us that open discussion works. Young men are the highest percent the group in the growing in the US, But young women are most likely to become HIV positive when there is unsafe sex. We need to apply the model of open discussion with schools, friends and families. In Uganda all of the police, judges, medical professionals, non profits, all professionals helping with AIDS talked together and held community meetings with families. Individuals can take action by being nice to the people who have HIV and by having meetings where everyone learns how not to pass HIV. While we try to find a cure we can help people know about the disease. One way to help is to be open with education and prevention on social medias. People talk about this and can help each other find ways to prevent the spread of the disease not only in schools but in discussions about safe sex with their families and in the community. They can find a cure but that might not happen in time for young people today, so young people need to know how to be safe. Young people and their friends and family could also read more about HIV and have open discussions. In the US we talk about this in schools, but we need the community to agree to involve everyone, the family, the government and other organizations, All political parties have to agree to do these discussions. More education in schools, community campaigns, social media and media posters can go a long way to helping everyone learn to prevent the sharing of HIV between young people.

How can you help to prevent and find a cure for HIV? The progress that was made is that now we can help people continue to receive support and be friends with their old friends since they have HIV. People think that it can get passed by touching a person but that is not the case and everyone needs to learn how the disease is spread and how to prevent the spread. It is spread by having unsafe sex. I hope this is not true, but if there is no cure for this in my lifetime, we have to learn to prevent, be kind and have all friends and family members support those with HIV. We must help the people who have it and we must try to stop other young people from getting it. HIV cheats young people out of family, friends, jobs and joining their community.

Works Cited

Kabeba, Roberts and Jamil, Ishtiaq. “Addressing HIV/AIDS Challenges in Uganda: does social capital generation by NGOs matter? Sahara Journal of Social Aspects of HI/AIDS. 2011. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.


Kironde, Samson, and John Lukwago. "Corporate Response to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Uganda - Time for a Paradigm Shift?" African Health Sciences. Makerere Medical School. Web. 17 Oct. 2015.

"Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.

"We Can End Poverty." Web. 17 Oct. 2015.

"What Is the Millennium Development Goal on HIV and Malaria All About?" Piyal Adhikary/EPA, 2010. Web. 17 Oct. 2015.

Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 17 Oct. 2015.