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The “Don’t Want HIV Generation”

Some thirty million people in Africa are HIV-positive.

“An estimated 5.6 million people were living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa in 2009, more than in any other country. It is believed that in 2009, an estimated 310,000 South Africans died of AIDS. Prevalence is 17.8% among those aged 15-49…almost one-in-three women aged 25-29 and over a quarter of men aged 30-34 are living with HIV” (HIV and AIDS in South Africa). 

With the growing concern for the millions of people in Africa affected by HIV, many are taking action, trying not only to combat HIV in Africa, but also to raise global awareness of this deadly disease in the hopes that future generations to come will be HIV-free. Having only 15% of the world’s population living in Africa, the number of HIV-positive people in Africa compared to numbers in other countries is astounding, influencing people to do extensive research on the topic through the funding of many non-profit organizations who are trying to spread the word about this epidemic.


Why does Africa have the highest number of HIV-positive people in the world?
Researchers have found that HIV is caused and spread in Africa at such a high rate due to some of their social, political, medical, and economic factors. 


Many adolescents are HIV-positive, and researchers have set out to find the reason why. “A significant proportion of HIV infections occurred in adolescents who claim to be virgins" (New HIV/AIDS Study Findings Recently Were Reported by E. Deuchert and Co-Researchers). "Two explanations for this observation have been proposed: adolescents misreport sexual status or non-sexual risks are more prevalent than previously asserted” (New HIV/AIDS Study Findings Recently Were Reported by E. Deuchert and Co-Researchers).

HIV affects many adolescents in Africa. “The number of premature deaths due to HIV/AIDS has risen significantly over the last decade from 39 percent to 75 percent in 2010” (HIV and AIDS in South Africa). “It is estimated there are 1.9 million AIDS orphans where one or both parents are deceased in South Africa, and that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is responsible for half of the country’s orphans. Another estimate puts the proportion of maternal orphans – those who have lost their mother – orphaned by AIDS as over 70 percent” (HIV and AIDS in South Africa).

Is knowing that some 30 million people in Africa are HIV-positive important enough to change the world?


Becoming aware of a problem is the first step necessary to make a change. The HIV epidemic of Africa needs to be put to a stop for the sake of the future generations to come. “Marking a welcome change from South Africa's history of HIV, the South African Government launched a major HIV counseling and testing campaign (HCT) in 2010. By raising awareness of HIV, the campaign aims to reduce the HIV incidence rate by 50 percent by June 2011” (HIV and AIDS in South Africa).


Recent studies have been conducted concerning the many causes of HIV, including sexual transmissions and parent-child transmission. New data has been found that is expanding the causes of HIV. It is being said that the data may also have been skewed because some people do not admit to being sexually active or having sex with a condom. The researchers concluded, "This is important to design combination prevention to achieve maximum impact on HIV prevention" (New HIV/AIDS Study Findings Recently Were Reported by E. Deuchert and Co-Researchers).


How are people using this information now to engage in and change the world? In other words, how can we stop the spread of HIV?


After becoming aware of a problem, change can come about through the help of many people’s assets, whether it be hands-on help, or monetary assistance.

Hands-on help can be provided through people going to Africa to offer a lending hand, like giving out condoms and informative pamphlets, or doing research concerning the disease, in hopes that a breakthrough will be made and a cure will come about. “Condom use in South Africa is growing with the percentage of those using a condom during their last sexual encounter increasing from 27 percent in 2002, 35 percent in 2005, to 62 percent in 2008. Younger people show the highest rates of condom use which bodes well for the future of prevention, and could explain the decline in HIV prevalence and incidence among teenagers and younger adults” (HIV and AIDS in South Africa). “In 2007, 256 million condoms were distributed by the government” (HIV and AIDS in South Africa).


Many people are helping with HIV research and development through monetary assistance. With the Internet, it is easy to fund reputable organizations that are helping to promote awareness and health in Africa and around the world. Aidsinafrica.net is accepting donations, and through their site you can see how they are trying to make a difference. Avert.org is also accepting online donations. With their website, you are given comprehensive information that is very helpful in creating awareness and promoting change. Project (RED) has also partnered with businesses like Gap and Apple to spread the word about AIDS in Africa, in hopes that a cure will be found through raising substantial funds for research. 


Despite the other crises that afflict our world today, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa cannot be forgotten. Research needs to be done. Action needs to be taken. The health of future generations is at stake.


I will close today with one of the slogans used by one non-profit organization that is helping to raise money and awareness, promoting a healthier, HIV-free lifestyle: 

“Let us become apart of the don’t want HIV generation. Let’s do something positive.”

Let’s Move!: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles for the Future Generation

One out of three children in our nation are overweight or obese. In a thirty-year period, childhood obesity rates have tripled. 

“The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake.” –First Lady Michelle Obama at the Let’s Move! launch on February 9, 2010

First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Campaign, a nationwide movement centered on combating childhood obesity, began in light of our fast-paced lifestyles that create health risks for ourselves and our children, hoping that reaching out to communities and big corporations would get people’s attention, influencing them to make a change towards a healthier lifestyle. This campaign is “fundamentally changing the conversation about how we eat and stay active, helping to ensure future generations are ready to win the future” ("USDA And Hunger Advocates To Launch Public-Private Partnership To Strengthen The National Hunger Safety Net").

How did we get to where we are today? In other words, how did our lifestyles evolve into a doctor’s worst nightmare? Thirty years ago, the majority of people led healthier lives. Kids walked to and from school, participated in recess and gym class, and played for hours before and after dinner. There was an abundance of home-cooked meals, always with a vegetable. Many people did not eat fast food, and snacking was on occasion. Unfortunately, most children are driven to school today. Many do not participate in sports or recreation because they can’t seem to find the time or a program. TV, video games, and the Internet consume much of their time. Home-cooked meals are a rarity in the majority of households, and snacking is a commonplace due to hectic schedules. Portion sizes are about five times bigger than in previous years. In total, we are now eating 31 percent more calories than we were forty years ago–including 56 percent more fats and oils and 14 percent more sugars and sweeteners. The average American now eats fifteen more pounds of sugar a year than in 1970.

Who other to go to for help than the food companies that are putting more sugars and fats into our food. The Let’s Move! Campaign sought out the help of big corporations and programs including Kraft Foods, the Girl Scouts of America, the United Soccer Club, the NFL, and Disney to get their support. On February 11^th, Rhonda Jordan, President of Global Health and Wellness and Sustainability for Kraft Foods, spoke out by saying, "As the nation's largest food company, we know we have a role to play in helping people make good choices, whether it's providing nutritious food options or offering healthy recipes. We're delighted to stand here today to encourage young [people] to start with the small steps that can lead to a healthy future" ("Girl Scouts And Kraft Take Action - 'Let's Move!' HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Joins with Girl Scouts Around The Nation For A Conversation On Healthy Lifestyles At Let's Move! National Girl Scouts And Kraft Foods Town Hall").

With the help of corporations and program involvement, the Let’s Move! Campaign has not only gotten national recognition, but also made a real impact since its start one year ago. Major steps include bringing more grocery stores into under-served areas, a "Healthy Weight Commitment" by food manufacturers pledging to cut 1.5 trillion calories a year from their products, Wal-Mart promising to sell products with less sugar, salt, and trans-fat, and to reduce prices on healthy items like fresh fruits and vegetables, clearer labels on food items, the addition of salad bars in 6,000 schools across the country, the passing of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, by Congress that will provide healthier school meals to millions of American children, and through Let's Move! Cities and Towns, 500 mayors have committed to tackling obesity in their communities by building bike paths, planting gardens and starting youth sports leagues.

Let’s Move! is making a difference in communities around the nation because it is gathering followers and getting support from many people who see the need for change in today’s society. Let’s Move! is challenging every one of you to eat right, exercise, and get a sufficient amount of sleep. Together, we can make a difference by promoting a healthier lifestyle for the future generations to come.