The U. S. government has been committed in helping reverse the effects of the AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) epidemic not only in Africa but also globally. (Columbus, & Olufemi, 2006, pg. 29), note that the U. S. began its involvement in combating AIDS in Africa in the 1980s when it became clear that the effects would be severe. AIDS continues to be a major problem to the world and particularly in Africa which is the hardest hit by the epidemic. An estimated 68% (about 22. 5 million people) living with HIV were found in Sub-Saharan Africa as at the end of the year 2007.
Although considerable efforts have been made in combating the epidemic, yet the prevalence levels in most Sub-Saharan African countries still remain stable with the number of new infections equaling the HIV related deaths. ( Pembrey, 2008), observes that there has been mixed results regarding the fight against the epidemic. In some countries, the prevalence declined while others recorded an increase in the prevalence levels. Without intervention, the prevalence rates in Africa can spiral to unimaginable levels as is the case with Botswana (24. 1%).
The US has been gradually increasing the budgetary allocation to Africa for combating the scourge. The decision to increase funding is critical to the US government in that it has became apparent that the epidemic could reverse the progress made in development and poverty reduction. This, coupled with a few success stories of how the funds have helped reverse the trends makes it necessary for the government to increase the funding. One such success story is that of Uganda where the infection rates were successfully reduced from about 15% to about 5% between the years 1991 to 2001.
The AIDS epidemic affects many people in Africa as stated above. In particular, about two thirds of the global population that is has already been infected. (Akukwe, & Foote, 2001) note that the scourge mostly affects the youth. This is the group that is most sexually active. These people also happen to be the most productive people in a country’s economy as they provide both skilled and unskilled labor. Thus, AIDS is a threat to African economies and can lead to economic decline and consequently social chaos if measures to combat it are not put in place.
The US government should be involved in the fight against the epidemic because the world has become a global village and the effects of the epidemic could also come to be felt by the country. Since the inception of foreign funding to combat AIDS, subsequent regimes have been gradually increasing the budgetary allocation and thus, it would be important for the coming regimes to sustain the initiative. For instance, in the year 2003, a five-year plan was launched to help fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The implementation of this plan started in 2004. (Kanabus, & Noble, 2008).
This plan’s funding increased from previous commitments and this clearly shows the importance of the U. S. involvement in the campaign. The African HIV- AIDS policy is very important to the US and it is a must that the US government tamper with this issue since according to president George Bush, the future of international relations is solely hinged on joint venturing, a concept that cannot be realized if the trading partners are ailing. Bush in his 2005 speech at the Washington DC’s Smithsonian National Museum of African Art continued that the conditions of Africa could end up impacting the US.
This is because the debilitating effect that HIV AIDS metes out on a country’s economy is too serious and can easily usher in poverty. Poverty in turn may usher in failed states, radical ideologies and transborder violence. In addition to the above reasons, humanitarian organizations have cited cases of human and global responsibility that America should assume as a superpower. These philanthropists cite the vast wealth, research facilities, huge pool of funds and revolutionization of science by America as some of the factors that should catapult America’s intervention.