14 September 2010
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. Luke 10:33-34
“AIDS creating a continent of orphans,” read a headline, followed by the grim story taking place in Zambia. "By any measure," said a UNICEF official, "the HIV-AIDS pandemic is the most terrible undeclared war in the world, with the whole of sub-Saharan Africa a killing field" (Orange Country Register, Sept. 16, 1999, p. 21.)
In a 2008 report published by UN AIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, an estimated 1.7 million to 2.4 million deaths worldwide are reported as a result of HIV/AIDS. Seventy-two percent of the deaths occurred in the sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 22.4 million people are living with AIDS, with Southern Africa the most affected.
In the same report the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) estimated that the yearly HIV incidence in the US remains stable since the early 1990s. Sixty-seven percent of new HIV infections worldwide are in sub-Saharan Africa. The epidemic continues to affect households, businesses and national economies in the region.
Sadly, it is our children who often reap the consequences of adult failures. "In many African countries," writes Ken Silverstein, "AIDS has wiped out a half-century of gains in child survival rates." (Ken Silverstein, "Millions for Viagra, Pennies for Diseases of the Poor" The Nation, July 19, 1999, p. 16). Ninety-one percent of new HIV infections are among children in sub-Saharan Africa.
In Kenya—where Guidelines regularly ministers—a typical young person becomes sexually active between the ages of 15 and 19, with only 25% practicing safe sex. Add them to the newborns already infected and you do the math.
While testing in Kenya more than doubled between 2003 and 2007, an estimated 83% of Kenyans infected with HIV lived with the malady undiagnosed. Only 12% of the estimated 1.4 million HIV infected adults in 2007 were receiving the daily treatment prescribed (Kenya Ministry of Health, 2009).
But children who are out of sight--a half continent away--are usually out of mind. The question looms, "Why doesn't someone do something about the situation?" The answer, simply put, is money.
Frankly, it doesn't pay for pharmaceutical companies to pour money into research for maladies that are prevalent in Third World countries. It’s no secret that HIV medicines are very expensive. Have you ever wondered how much they cost to take each month? A whopping average of $15,000 a month! But in Kenya where the per capita income stands at $1600 a year, medication for even simple needs is beyond the reach of all but the very, very rich.
And why don't pharmaceutical companies allow African countries to produce cheap generic substitutes? You guessed it. It would cut in on their lucrative profits. So the problem is ignored and people die.
Because of the manner in which AIDS can be transmitted, it is easy to ignore the plight of the victim and the secondary victims who are children. Yet I am reminded that Jesus didn't pass moral judgment on the case of the prostitute who was thrust into His presence. He simply forgave her and sought to help her restore her dignity.
And what can we do about the situation? Probably little at this point, but nothing will be done until there is general awareness of what is happening, and then, gradually, pressure can be brought to bear on both governments and pharmaceutical companies to reach out to the suffering and needy no matter who they are or where they are or what brought them to the killing fields which are taking vast numbers of victims.
When you answer the question, "What would God have me to do?" you have begun to contribute to healing and help. That's the first step.
Resource reading: Luke 10.