What is HIV and AIDS?

Scenario
A country is rapidly developing. Its focus is on ensuring that its citizens become
wealthy. Everyone in the country believes that money will equal a better life. The
country invests a lot of money into schooling, infrastructure and technology. There
are job opportunities for everyone in the country. Over the last few years, people
have been leading better lives, they no longer go hungry, they can buy new clothes,
a car, and travel. Life is looking good!
However, the country has not invested in its health system. It is still very expensive
and people have to wait a long time for treatment. In some rural areas, there is no
health care in place at all. As people have got more money, they appear to be
leading healthier lives, but, there is a new disease that seems to be spreading. At
first it was only affecting certain sections of society, people who were involved in
“risky behaviour”. It wasn’t thought about as much then. Doctors and nurses thought
it was the lifestyle of these people that was causing the illness and so wouldn’t be a
problem for the rest of society. Slowly, young people, educated people, people of all
sections of society began to exhibit the same symptoms. Over time, people were
dying. Whole sections of a community were disappearing. Women, men, children –
no-one was safe. Teachers, engineers, construction workers, university students –
all dying.
Now the country is not developing as quickly as it once was. The economy has
slowed down. People are sick. They can no longer work. They sell their car. They
use their savings to pay for rent and healthcare. They are hungry. They are sick.
They are dying.
Development is not only about material wealth, it is about social and mental wellbeing too.
For a country to develop, it needs to invest in all things, most importantly good affordable
and accessible healthcare, including sexual and reproductive healthcare.
No-one is immune to HIV, but living in poverty increases your vulnerability to infection.
Livelihoods, culture, access to information, health services, age, gender all contribute to
your level of vulnerability. For example, a woman living in a rural area who has limited
access to healthcare and sexual and reproductive information is far more vulnerable to
infection than say a professional man living in the city.
HIV disproportionately affects poorer households as well. If one person becomes sick
with HIV, the whole family is affected. This could be through decreased income and
increased medical costs, as well as facing stigma and discrimination.
HIV is not the only cause of poverty but it does exacerbate it. A more holistic approach to
development is needed. You may not be working on a HIV project but your work will
impact the spread of HIV. It is time for all sectors to work together to combat the spread of
HIV.
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