Impact of HIV/AIDS in Asia - Some Information
We have talked extensively about the growing epidemic of HIV and AIDS in Africa, but let's not forget about the other areas of the world that are dealing with this disease.
The Asian continent is another place hit hard by HIV.
In fact, nearly 5 million people have HIV in South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.
A little over 2 million of these people live in India alone.
Whereas the number of HIV cases in Myanmar and Thailand has decreased, HIV cases are on the rise in countries like Indonesia and Pakistan.
There are three main ways HIV is transmitted in Asian countries: Through sex workers, drug use, and men who have sex with men.
Unprotected sex with prostitutes is very common in Asian countries, where condom use is still at low levels.
A significant percentage of women in several Asian countries have contracted HIV are wives and girlfriends of men who acquired the disease through one of the three most common methods.
Campaigns in Cambodia and Thailand have been aimed at educating the public on the proper use of condoms, and encouraging sex workers in these countries to practice safer sexual habits.
In fact, the Cambodian government has mandated that all sex workers use condoms in brothels throughout the country.
The high cost and low availability of antiretroviral drugs in Asian countries has a major impact on the treatment of HIV and AIDS in Asia.
Only about a third of those HIV patients in the Philippines, for example, have access to HIV medication, whereas countries like Thailand and Cambodia are well covered.
Extensive drug use has fueled the Malaysian HIV epidemic, which has prompted the government there to utilize needle exchange programs to keep the virus from passing from person to person through intravenous drug use.
The impact of HIV and AIDS on Asia isn't just felt in Southeast Asia; in fact, China's HIV population numbers are approximately three-quarters of a million people.
This doesn't sound like a lot, especially in a country of over a billion people, but it is significant.
Chinese health officials fear that the number could increase sharply over the next few years, as the general population feels the effects of HIV after mingling with those in the highest-risk category.
Furthermore, about two thirds of all HIV cases in Japan are the result of men having unprotected sex with men.
All of these Asian countries are dealing with HIV problems of varying degrees; however, it's obvious that three things are desperately needed right now: Access to anti-retroviral medication, more education on safe sex practices, and responsible needle usage.
The Asian continent is another place hit hard by HIV.
In fact, nearly 5 million people have HIV in South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.
A little over 2 million of these people live in India alone.
Whereas the number of HIV cases in Myanmar and Thailand has decreased, HIV cases are on the rise in countries like Indonesia and Pakistan.
There are three main ways HIV is transmitted in Asian countries: Through sex workers, drug use, and men who have sex with men.
Unprotected sex with prostitutes is very common in Asian countries, where condom use is still at low levels.
A significant percentage of women in several Asian countries have contracted HIV are wives and girlfriends of men who acquired the disease through one of the three most common methods.
Campaigns in Cambodia and Thailand have been aimed at educating the public on the proper use of condoms, and encouraging sex workers in these countries to practice safer sexual habits.
In fact, the Cambodian government has mandated that all sex workers use condoms in brothels throughout the country.
The high cost and low availability of antiretroviral drugs in Asian countries has a major impact on the treatment of HIV and AIDS in Asia.
Only about a third of those HIV patients in the Philippines, for example, have access to HIV medication, whereas countries like Thailand and Cambodia are well covered.
Extensive drug use has fueled the Malaysian HIV epidemic, which has prompted the government there to utilize needle exchange programs to keep the virus from passing from person to person through intravenous drug use.
The impact of HIV and AIDS on Asia isn't just felt in Southeast Asia; in fact, China's HIV population numbers are approximately three-quarters of a million people.
This doesn't sound like a lot, especially in a country of over a billion people, but it is significant.
Chinese health officials fear that the number could increase sharply over the next few years, as the general population feels the effects of HIV after mingling with those in the highest-risk category.
Furthermore, about two thirds of all HIV cases in Japan are the result of men having unprotected sex with men.
All of these Asian countries are dealing with HIV problems of varying degrees; however, it's obvious that three things are desperately needed right now: Access to anti-retroviral medication, more education on safe sex practices, and responsible needle usage.
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