World Aids Day: The Epidemic in Haiti

An unassuming man driving a cab in Boston each winter, becomes a working class hero each summer, when he heads to Haiti to fight his own personal grassroots battle against AIDS.  Seems that during those harsh winter months, in addition to driving his cab, he quietly solicits donations from other Haitian immigrants -  as well as the sympathetic and affluent Boston medical crowd - and uses the money to provide medical supplies, condoms, and educational tools to the struggling Haitians.

Underground heroes like Mr. Cab Driver, unsupported by any government agency, work to help fight one of the most insidious diseases of all time- HIV/AIDS.

UNAIDS reports that globally, there are 33 Million people living with AIDS.  Economically struggling areas of Africa, southeast Asia, and the Caribbean have the highest populations.  Haiti sits near the top, with 2.2% of its adult population stricken with HIV.

Long plagued with political violence and government corruption, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.  60% of its population lives below the poverty line.

HIV/AIDS in Haiti

• 8,706,497: population of Haiti (2007 est.)
• 110,000: Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2007
• 2.2%: Estimated percentage of adults (ages 15-49) living with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2007
• 53%: Estimated percentage of HIV cases that occured among women (ages 15-49) by the end of 2007
• 6,800: Estimated number of children (ages 0-15) living with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2007
• 7,500: Estimated number of deaths due to AIDS during 2007

Source

• UNAIDS 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic.  July2008

International Programs struggle with corrupt political leaders, too little money, and too many patients.  In spite of all efforts, the numbers of HIV positive victims continues to grow.

It is a difficult situation, with no end in site.

Related Posts

• March 12, 2008 -- Haiti: Turning People’s Lives Around (0)
• February 16, 2008 -- A Self Made Millionaire Gives Back (1)

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