1. Background: The acquired immune deficiency (AIDS) is the final stage of a group of symptoms that cause destruction to the immune system cells by a retrovirus. There are a number of retroviruses that can cause AIDS with each affecting different species. The most common among the human population is known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). There are three separate ways of transmitting HIV – through unprotected and unsafe sex; injecting and transfusing infected blood into others, and passing it from a mother to child. In 1985, the first case of HIV/AIDS was reported.
Today, it is estimated that about 34 million people around the world are infected with the deadly virus. In addition, 22. 9 million of these people, or two thirds of the inflicted population, live in the region known as Sub-Saharan Africa. The average life expectancy of the Sub-Saharan African region has reached as low as fifty-four years of age, and forty-nine in certain countries, such as South Africa. Specifically, in Sub-Saharan Africa, many people don’t know what HIV/AIDS is, how it is transmitted, and that there is treatment for them if they are infected.
This enormous increase of HIV/AIDS infection over the past decade has taken a dramatic toll on the economy of Africa as a whole. The epidemic has not only affected the health sector, but also the education agriculture, transport, industry and human resources sectors as well. Another one of the major issues brought upon by this epidemic is the fact that in 2010 alone, 14. 8 million children have lost at least one of their parents to HIV/AIDS. Many people around the world are offering their assistance to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS through providing medical treatment, distributing condoms, and educating people of the risks of unprotected sex.
2. UN Involvement: UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, describes HIV/AIDS as the “silent killer,” due to the stigma that surrounds it and the fact that this has not been given the highest priority by industrialized countries. Therefore, the UN has made the fight against HIV a very high priority, particularly helping the 34 million people around the world affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. First, and most recently, the UN created a Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS on June 8, 2011 aiming to intensify their efforts to eliminate HIV/AIDS.
The UN has also passed numerous resolutions that relate to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. For example, Council Resolution 1983 was adopted on June 7th of 2011 and calls for the increased efforts by UN Member States to address HIV in peacekeeping missions, as well as aligning to end sexual violence that eventually can lead to HIV. In addition, UN Security Council Resolution 1308 was adopted in 2000 and highlighted the possible growing impact of AIDS on social instability and emergency situations, as well as the potential damaging impact of HIV on the health of international peacekeeping personnel.
One of the major NGO’s created to combat HIV/AIDS is a partnership of numerous organizations to create UNAIDS. The “UNAIDS’ Vision is that there will be: zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths. ” Lastly, the UN created a Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for AIDS in 2002, and a national of Pakistan, Dr Nafis Sadik, was appointed the leader of the special envoy. Dr. Sadik focuses mainly on calling attention to the importance of addressing the needs of women, as well as finding funds and ways to help distribute antiretroviral drugs and condoms.
3. Country Policy and Solutions: Mali is located in the area of northwest Africa, which means that we are subject to the epidemic within the African continent However, we have one of the lowest HIV/AIDS rates in the continent of Africa with an infection rate of less than 2%. This lower rate is attributable to the support of the government and the people of Mali, as well as the United States Government and organizations like UNAIDS. Mali has supported numerous UN Resolutions relating to the topic of HIV/AIDS because it is so prevalent in the continent of Africa.
For example, we are in full support of the A/RES/66/757, which is the need to achieve the targets of 2011 UN political Declaration on AIDS, as well as A/HRC/19/37, which deals with the protection of human rights when a person is diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Our country has also demonstrated progress in reaching our goals of Universal Access within Mali and the Millennium Development Goals. Within our own country, we have created a National Strategic Plan that has been incredibly useful and successful over the past decade.
In addition, Mali is one of the International Health Partnership (IHP) pilot countries, which helped to strengthen our health system by creating more centers that help prevent the population from transmitting HIV/AIDS. One of the most important elements in combating HIV/AIDS is the prevention of new HIV infections. A major part of preventing new infections is through the distribution of more condoms throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, which would help protect people from transmitting the disease during sexual relations.
Although this is already going on, it is important that we use NGO’s such as UNAIDS and national governments to help provide funds. In 2009, Mali received $3. 0 million in fiscal year from UNAIDS, as well as being part of the U. S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) which committed 63 billion dollars to fight HIV/AIDS in the past six years. With the commitment and help of resources like these, poor countries living in Africa have a better chance of combatting HIV/AIDS.
In addition, Mali encourages UNDP and other organizations to help more people in Sub-Saharan Africa to get jobs or receive micro loans, so they do not have to become involved in the sex-trade as a last resort. Next, Mali believes that further research needs to be done to help create new and successful ways of fighting HIV/AIDS. For example, last year, scientists created a micro biocide, which is a cream or gel that women can apply to prevent infection. Though it needs to be further tested and researched, Mali believes this a major step in helping women all across Africa who have no control in their relationship.
It is also essential for girls and women to receive more education about the causes and effects of HIV/AIDs. They also should learn how it can be transmitted and the importance of practicing safe sex. Furthermore, the fear of discrimination often prevents people in Africa from getting tested and seeking treatment for HIV/AIDS. This is why, we the country of Mali encourage that all governments need to pass laws against the discrimination of those inflicted with HIV/AIDS. Another very important aspect to battling HIV/AIDS is treating the people who are already infected with the epidemic now.
Across Africa, only 21% of the people that need testing are receiving it. The need for more testing is especially prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, in which only 82 out of 1000 people are receiving the necessary HIV testing. We recommend the use of mobile testing facilities traveling around sub-Saharan Africa to help test the people living in areas hard to reach. We also encourage that everyone affected with HIV attend voluntary HIV counseling and consistent testing. We also encourage the full government support and urge them to make this a major priority within their borders.
Lastly, we recommend the distribution of Anti-retroviral drugs mainly within Sub-Saharan Africa to help them live relatively normal, healthy lives. With the support of NGO’s, these essential drugs can be distributed on the mobile testing facilities.
With these solutions being implemented in our own country, we have been successful in reducing our HIV/AIDS infection rate to below 2%. Through these effective solutions, Mali believes that we can further combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic throughout the entire continent of Africa.