HIV/AIDS Threatens Whole Societies in Developing Countries

HIV/AIDS is one of the most serious threats to development. There are some 40 million HIV positives in the world and the pandemic is not ceasing. Nearly 25 million people have already died of AIDS. Every day, almost 1800 children who are less than 15 years old catch HIV. It is estimated that the number of children who become orphans because of AIDS will rise to 25 million in the coming years. HIV is spreading in developing countries where poverty, sexual inequality and lack of education, information and contraceptives augment the probability to catch HIV. Especially young married women become HIV positives. HIV/AIDS threatens whole societies in developing countries but also inside the EU and its neighbouring areas.

Since HIV/AIDS has a far-reaching impact on society, stopping the pandemic requires coherence inside development policy and as well as between different policy sectors. In the “European Consensus on Development” and Finnish Development Policy Programme, HIV is treated as an extensive development issue. HIV/AIDS has to be taken into account as extensively and its integration in other policy fields has to be ensured. The EU has both political power and financial resources to act as a forerunner of anti-AIDS work. It has to promote coherence in its action and take human rights as a starting point for its action.

AIDS IS SPREADING IN ASIA

In India with a population of over a billion, HIV/AIDS is a part of the everyday life. According to estimations, there were over 5 million HIV positives in 2005 and the number is growing fast. People’s knowledge of AIDS is usually based on rumours and rumblings. That is why people who wish and dare to speak of the topic, about which people’s mouths are kept shut, are needed. Nato Balu Mugn and his daughter-in-law are this kind of brave people. The grandfather Nato describes his family’s situation: “Few months ago, my only son died of AIDS. When he fell ill, we did not know what to do. My son was tested for HIV in the hospital of a nearby town and the doctor told us to go to Numbai to get drugs. We couldn’t afford to do it”. The family hid the disease from neighbours. After the son’s death, the matter came to light and people stopped visiting the house. Rumours were spreading in the village that burning the body would cause flies to spread the disease. The grandfather talks about the future: “I want to take care of my son’s children. Their mother is a great support for the children. As long as I shall live, I will defend my daughter-in-law and the children, even though the villagers advise me to send them away.” The mother of the family is also an HIV positive and the family wishes to get her medications. They have heard that regular diet and anti-inflammation drugs help HIV positives. The mother hopes to see her children study and get a profession. “I feel strong and try to stay healthy for the sake of my children. My life is hard because my mother-in-law blames me for my husband’s death and has threatened to evict me from the house.” Five years later, the mother has died of AIDS. The children have gained information on their mother’s life and thoughts from the book she had put together. She has written down encouraging thoughts and experiences and also included her will and named the guardian for the children in the book. The book has helped the daughter Moheeni adjust to the loss her parents. Moheeni remembers how everything changed overnight when her father died. “While father was still alive, everybody was quiet about the AIDS. After he died, I felt bad because we could not visit are neighbours anymore. Everyone refused to sit next to me in the school because they thought I had AIDS.” HIV/AIDS influences every aspect of society. When Moheeni’s teacher became ill, the schooling was interrupted. In Moheeni’s family, the scarce money they had was used on HIV drugs and the girls had to stop attending school. Today, Moheeni is 18 years old and married to an older man and a mother of three children. The family organised the marriage and Moheeni lives in her husband’s shadow and she has no say whatsoever in her life. The husband decides upon the use of contraception and information and contraceptives are not always even available. Like many other Asian girls and women, Moheeni has given birth to her children at home without any professional help. So far, the deliveries have gone well. Moheeni is also financially dependent on her husband. She does not know how she would survive if he died or abandoned her. “What if my husband has HIV? What will happen to me and my children?” Moheeni sometimes thinks.