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Any effective approach to AIDS mandates an comprehensive
whole systems approach that sees AIDS as a symptom
of a breakdown in social structures that are basic to human
well being in any society. The symptoms of the AIDS
Pandemic have only increased the structural challenges in
Africa and other parts of the developing world that make social
stability, prosperity and well being so elusive in these regions.
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Africa accounts for 70% of
global population of people infected with AIDS and 80
percent of global deaths. |
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In Kenya—15 percent of population
is HIV positive and the economic impact amounts to 1.3
percent of GDP per year, reducing economic growth by around
25 percent a year. |
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In Burkina Faso 25 percent of rural families
have cut back on farm work and many are now threatened
with death and starvation. |
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AIDS has reduced the status of many families
to beggars and ravaged the educational sector reducing
the number of teachers and has kept children out of schools
so that they can take care of the sick. |
HIV/AIDS is a national disaster for the people of Kenya as
it is wherever it is found worldwide. Children face the loss
of one or both parents and possibly being infected themselves,
and youth are at great risk of being physically and sexually
exploited, neglected, and stigmatized. They often drop out
of school and face an uncertain and precarious future. Women
and grandparents become the sole caretakers of their families.
Communities suffer as do individuals and the society as a
whole.
HIV/AIDS and Holistic Development in Kenya
WHAT WE ADDRESS:
1) All aspects of HIV/AIDS
2) Other human-development challenges, such as poverty, hunger,
low literacy and lack of education, human-rights concerns,
inadequate healthcare.
3) Sustainability and eco-living
4) The special challenges faced by youth and women
5) Access and use of ICTs
6) Use of the arts for HIV/AIDS education and prevention
Immediate needs are focused understandably on mitigating
the AIDS pandemic through treatment for those
who have the AIDS virus. However the notion of a proactive
approach to AIDS expands upon that proposing a fundamental
realignment in policy and approach to come up with a long
term solution to the problem. Monies that address the AIDS
problem directly and specifically must be complementary to
programs providing financial resources to build schools, hospitals
and other necessary infrastructure.
The solutions involved in this complementary process not
only involves development monies but a careful selection of
the kinds of projects they are targeted and also a effective
program for cultivating and growing human capital. This includes
proper procedures and methodologies to ensure accountability
and transparency in relation to how limited human, financial
and natural resources are allocated. This process of economic
and policy reform must involve a rethink in how African governments
as well as the development community operate. Structural changes
in how the global economy operates are also needed.
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Political
process needs to be streamlined to make rulers more
accountable to their people |
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Empower Africans
economically by allowing them to trade with themselves
and with developed nations |
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Effective development strategy:
Target development on specific regions that are most receptive
to innovation and reform |
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Put needs of feeding Africa
before sustaining affluent nation consumer demand with
coffee and other luxury crops |
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Eliminate agricultural subsidies
in developed nations |
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Open
information sector to a diversity of media entrepreneurs |
AIDS and Sustainable Development: the Community-based
Approach Sustainable development will
be the driving force in the new economy.
AIDS has given Africans a kind of resolve that we do not see
in other parts of the world. The right mix of investments
focusing on the development of human capacity and well being
at the community level will enable rapid expansion of effective
as well as ecologically and socially sustainable economic
practices in Africa.
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Discuss the
top priorities of various groups in the community |
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Learn about
their existing coping mechanisms and adaptive strategies |
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Focus on the opportunities
and the bottlenecks |
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