HIV/AIDS
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[edit] Definition
[edit] Status
The country with the worst infection rate is Botswana. The likely worst countries in 2010 are all in Africa: Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. But the countries with the most infections are not necessarily the ones with the highest percentage infected. For example, many observers believe that Russia, China and India will have the largest number of infections in the next decade or so, while still having small percentages.
Interestingly, it’s more the Christianized countries that are having serious ramifications from AIDS. Some 75 World C countries have serious, rampant epidemics, while only 12 World B (majority-evangelized, minority-Christian) countries and no World A (unevangelized) countries do. However, 36 World A and 50 World B countries are lightly infected. It would be good to focus some attention on them.
The AIDS pandemic. This has become a terrible threat to whole nations — especially in central and southern Africa, India, and South-east Asia. AIDS is likely to become the new frontier in medical missions and in the ministry of local churches in the future. A range of new skills and spiritual gifts will be needed to cope with the stress and demands of ministry to the sick and bereaved. In Africa, by far the worst-stricken continent, organizations such as Scripture Union, the Salvation Army, and Christian Action Against AIDS (ACCS) are ministering though AIDS prevention education and care for AIDS victims.
In 2006 there were 4,3 millions new infections, 39,5 millions HIV-positiv and 2,9 died on this sickness (UNAIDS).
[edit] Quick Facts
- AIDS has killed twenty-five million people since it first emerged in the early 1980s--more deaths than occurred in World Wars I and II; [1]
- Every minute five people die of AIDS [2];
- every day 8,000 people die from AIDS [3]
- There are approximately fourteen million children orphaned by HIV/AIDS; [4]
- At current rates, 100 million people worldwide will be infected with HIV by 2010; [5]
- Of the 14,000 new people infected every day, 85% live in the developing world; [6]
- In Botswana, nearly four in ten adults are infected; [7]
- Eastern Europe is experiencing the fastest-growing AIDS epidemic in the world; [8]
- Former Secretary of State Colin Powell called HIV/AIDS the most serious threat to humankind and "the greatest weapon of mass destruction on earth." [9]
[edit] History
[edit] Global Efforts
- The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
- Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program (MAP), sponsored by the World Bank
- The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief: U.S. Five Year Global HIV/AIDS Strategy, USA.
- African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnership, an initiative in Botswana between the government, Merck, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
[edit] Organizations Involved
- World Vision on AIDS - http://www.worldvision.org/AIDSinfo
- GBGM-UMC on AIDS - http://new.gbgm-umc.org/work/health/aids/
[edit] More References
- Christian Today AIDS Forum sponsored by Christian Today, the Christian Post, Purpose Driven and World Vision.
- The Contribution of Christian Congregations to the battle with HIV/AIDS at the Community Level, by GMI Research Services at the request of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.
[edit] Trends
- See HIV Trends
