U.S. News & World Report Profiles Botswana’s Efforts To Fight HIV/AIDS Epidemic
The Dec. 15 issue of U.S. News & World Report profiles efforts to fight HIV/AIDS in Botswana, which has the highest HIV prevalence in the world; 38% of the adult population is estimated to be HIV-positive. Botswana has become a "test case" for the AIDS fight in Africa, and "the international community is joining in with a coordinated response to test the people, treat the sick, aid the caretakers, educate the population, halt the spread, care for the orphans and save the next generation," according to U.S. News. Although Botswana "was relatively prosperous before HIV, the epidemic now threatens all of that," U.S. News reports, noting that the country's population is on "the brink of annihilation" from the disease. Ten years ago life expectancy in Botswana was 65; however, an infant born today has a life expectancy of 32 years. "With a 38% infection rate, if each [HIV-positive person] infects one additional individual, you are fighting a losing battle," Ernest Darkoh, operations manager of the Botswana National Antiretroviral Program, said, adding, "What will it be next year? The theoretical worst it could be is 76%. Then you end up turning the whole country into a hospital. That's scary" (Brink, U.S. News & World Report, 12/15). The complete article is available online.
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