HIV/AIDSandDebt-ADeadlyCombinationTheUnitedNationsagencyUNAIDSestimatethatbytheendof2001,atotalof40millionpeopleacrosstheworldwillbelivingwithHIV/AIDS.Thevastmajority,some28millionpeople,resideinsub-SaharanAfrica.Althoughaccountingforonlytenpercentoftheworld'spopulationsub-SaharanAfricasees90percentofallnewinfectionsalongwith80percentofAIDSrelateddeaths.Povertyhasfuelledthespreadofthevirusintheregion.Ofthe41poorestandmostheavilyindebtedcountriesintheworld,34areinsub-SaharanAfrica.Debtisamajorcauseofpovertyandhardshipinindebtedcountrieswhereapproximately50percentofthepopulationliveonlessthan$1perdayandalmost50millionchildrenareoutofschool.ThespreadofHIV/AIDScanbecontrolledanditsimpactcanbesignificantlyreduced.ThefightagainstHIV/AIDSdependsonstrongandeffectivecampaignsinhealthandeducation.Inthepastyearsub-SaharanAfricahaspaidrichcreditorsalmost$15billionindebtrepayments.EverydayvitalresourcesaretakenawayfromthehealthandeducationsectorsincountrieswheretheHIV/AIDSpandemicisatitsworst.AdultsandchildrenestimatedtobelivingwithHIV/AIDSTotal40million(UNAIDS2001)用心爱心专心TheStructuralAdjustmentProgrammesofcreditorssuchastheInternationalMonetaryFundandtheWorldBankforceindebtedcountriestoslashgovernmentspendingandintroduceuserfeesforhealthandeducationservicestherebyreducingaccessforthepoorest.Millionsofpeopleremainvulnerabletotheriskofinfectionwhilstthevastmajorityoftheworld'sHIVpositivepopulationhavelittlehopeofreceivingtreatmentorsupport.HighlevelsofilliteracyandlowlevelsofaccesstomassmediaandinformationhinderAIDSeducationawarenesscampaigns.ChristianAidreportthatwithoutadecenteducationAfrica'schildrenaremorevulnerabletocontractingthevirusinlaterlife;25percentof15-19yearoldsinZambiastilldonotknowhowtoprotectthemselvesfrominfection.HIV/AIDSisasocialandaneconomiccatastrophe.Over12millionchildrenacrossthecontinenthavebeenorphaned.Thepandemicisputtingenormouspressureonhealth用心爱心专心caresystemsincountrieslikeZambiawhereapproximately50percentofhospitalbedsareoccupiedduetoanAIDSrelatedillness.Furthermore,experiencedpersonnel,bothsemi-skilledandhighlytrained,arebeinglostinallsectors,includingeducation,socialwelfare,andagriculture.Forexample,inZambiathenumberofteachersdyingofAIDSrelatedcausesin1998,wasequivalenttotwothirdsofallnewteacherstrainedthatyear.TwentypercentofthepopulationofZambiaareHIVpositive.Thecountryneedstospend$25oneachpersonannuallyonhealthcare;howeveratthemomentitisspendinglessthan$3perpersonperyear.MeanwhileOxfamInternationalreportthatdebtservicingfor2001inZambiawillbe6timesgreaterthanpublicspendingonhealth.DuetothepredominantlysexualtransmissionofHIV/AIDSinAfrica,thepandemicisconcentratedamongthemostproductivemembersofsociety,thoseagedbetween15-49.HIV/AIDSdisproportionatelyaffectssectorssuchasagriculture,transportandminingthatarehighlylabourintensiveorhavelargenumbersofmobileormigratoryworkers.HIV/AIDShasthegreatestimpactoncountriesthatrelyonagriculturalexports,whichearnvitalforeignexchangeneededtopaythedebt.TheHIV/AIDSpandemicisreducingthelabourforce,productivity,outputs,overalleconomicgrowthandnationalfoodsupplies.AsnotedbyOxfamInternationalHIV/AIDScreatesaviciouscircle.Thepandemicisreducingeconomicgrowth,whichincreasespovertyandwhichinturnacceleratesthespreadofHIV/AIDS.ResponsefromCreditorsisnotgoodenoughMalawiisaheavilyindebtedpoorcountrywithnearly16percentofitspopulationtestingpositiveforHIV.InAugust2000,Malawiturneddownaloanof$40millionfromtheWorldBank.TheloanwasforAIDStreatmentandprevention,butthedeputy用心爱心专心PrimeMinisterofMalawisaidthatitwouldbeimmoralforsuchaheavilyindebtedcountrytoacceptanotherloanthatitreallyhadnohopeofrepaying.IfhiscountryweretohaveachancetofightAIDStheywouldneedagrantandnotanotherloan.DebtCancellationisurgentlyneededtocombatthespreadofHIV/AIDSTheTaoiseachBertieAhernrecentlyutteredsuchsentiments.OnJune26th2001BertieAhernaddressedaspecialsessionoftheGeneralAssemblyoftheUnitedNationsonHIV/AIDS.InhisspeechhesupportedtheurgentneedfordebtcancellationforcountrieswithahighprevalencerateofHIV/AIDS.DebtandDevelopmentCoalitionIrelandurgetheTaoiseachtotakeactiononhiswordsbypressingtheWorldBankandInternationalMonetaryFundandrichcountrygovernmentstocancelthedebtsowedtothemandallowheavilyindebtedcountriesfightthespreadofHIV/AIDS.用心爱心专心
