Nigeria: AIDS Epidemic
ARAMGEDDON FOR NIGERIA?
By Caitlin Golder
Five percent . . . That is the armageddon rate for AIDS. In Nigeria the rate is 5.4. (Akukwe) This devastating threat to the Nigerian people did not just happen by itself. Colonization paved the way for the spread of AIDS in Nigeria. Colonization left the Nigerian government in chaos. When England first came to Nigeria, they did not think about how age old tribal conflicts would keep the country unstable with constant fighting and frequent coups. Because of the unstable government, Nigeria ended up with horrible health care for its people. Also because of discrimination against blacks, England left the Nigerian people in poverty and the country continued its decline into worse poverty after the fall of European colonization in Africa. Less wealthy areas are considered to be “a breeding ground for aids” (Akukwe).
After England left, Nigeria’s Government went into complete chaos. There were constant coups, military rule, and tribal fighting. For over 35 years they failed to create a stable government. Without a stable national government they were unable to provide basic services like minimal health care, education, regulations for safe blood transfers, and money for antiretroviral drugs. (Akukwe). Of the almost three million people only 17% are getting the antiviral drugs. (AIDS-AVERT) Nigeria has the highest rate of unsafe blood transfusions in the world. (Akukwe). If the government would have educated the people at the beginning of this epidemic then HIV/AIDS would not have spread so quickly. Because of low education levels, only 18% of adults in Nigeria can correctly state how to prevent HIV/AIDS. (AIDS-AVERT) The government’s reaction to this was to try and stop the spread of the virus by having people marry at a young ageand having people with HIV marry other people with HIV (Journalist and BBC).
Discrimination against blacks and government chaos caused poverty for many people in Nigeria. Most Nigerians live on a salary of only $2 a day. (AIDS-AVERT) In the 1990’s the government introduced antiretroviral drugs (ARV) that can be used to help fight aids, but most of Nigeria could not afford the treatment. (AIDS-AVERT) In 2002 the government started an “ambitious antiretroviral treatment program” (AIDS-AVERT); the fee was only $7 a month. They stocked the institute with 3.5 million ARVs but by 2004 there were too many people with the infection and not enough drugs. (AIDS-AVERT) The people in less wealthy areas don’t have the education to know about AIDS or the healthcare services to be treated properly for AIDS. Underprivileged areas need to be more educated on how to prevent AIDS so that the spread of AIDS can be slowed or stopped. “Nigeria is sitting on a ticking AIDS time bomb.” (Akukwe)
Most people wouldn’t think that European colonization paved the way for the spread of aids. But, colonization caused, to a great extent, a chaotic government structure which resulted in poverty throughout the country. Lack of health care and lack of education has led to this virus being out of control in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has tried to provide health care services but the majority of the population can’t afford them. Through the years the government has tried to control the spread of AIDS with better health care services and education, but it may be too late. Only 10% of people infected with AIDS in Nigeria are getting treatment. (AIDS-AVERT) Without improvement, this could mean a horrible coinclusion, amrmageddon, for the Nigerian people.
By Caitlin Golder
Five percent . . . That is the armageddon rate for AIDS. In Nigeria the rate is 5.4. (Akukwe) This devastating threat to the Nigerian people did not just happen by itself. Colonization paved the way for the spread of AIDS in Nigeria. Colonization left the Nigerian government in chaos. When England first came to Nigeria, they did not think about how age old tribal conflicts would keep the country unstable with constant fighting and frequent coups. Because of the unstable government, Nigeria ended up with horrible health care for its people. Also because of discrimination against blacks, England left the Nigerian people in poverty and the country continued its decline into worse poverty after the fall of European colonization in Africa. Less wealthy areas are considered to be “a breeding ground for aids” (Akukwe).
After England left, Nigeria’s Government went into complete chaos. There were constant coups, military rule, and tribal fighting. For over 35 years they failed to create a stable government. Without a stable national government they were unable to provide basic services like minimal health care, education, regulations for safe blood transfers, and money for antiretroviral drugs. (Akukwe). Of the almost three million people only 17% are getting the antiviral drugs. (AIDS-AVERT) Nigeria has the highest rate of unsafe blood transfusions in the world. (Akukwe). If the government would have educated the people at the beginning of this epidemic then HIV/AIDS would not have spread so quickly. Because of low education levels, only 18% of adults in Nigeria can correctly state how to prevent HIV/AIDS. (AIDS-AVERT) The government’s reaction to this was to try and stop the spread of the virus by having people marry at a young ageand having people with HIV marry other people with HIV (Journalist and BBC).
Discrimination against blacks and government chaos caused poverty for many people in Nigeria. Most Nigerians live on a salary of only $2 a day. (AIDS-AVERT) In the 1990’s the government introduced antiretroviral drugs (ARV) that can be used to help fight aids, but most of Nigeria could not afford the treatment. (AIDS-AVERT) In 2002 the government started an “ambitious antiretroviral treatment program” (AIDS-AVERT); the fee was only $7 a month. They stocked the institute with 3.5 million ARVs but by 2004 there were too many people with the infection and not enough drugs. (AIDS-AVERT) The people in less wealthy areas don’t have the education to know about AIDS or the healthcare services to be treated properly for AIDS. Underprivileged areas need to be more educated on how to prevent AIDS so that the spread of AIDS can be slowed or stopped. “Nigeria is sitting on a ticking AIDS time bomb.” (Akukwe)
Most people wouldn’t think that European colonization paved the way for the spread of aids. But, colonization caused, to a great extent, a chaotic government structure which resulted in poverty throughout the country. Lack of health care and lack of education has led to this virus being out of control in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has tried to provide health care services but the majority of the population can’t afford them. Through the years the government has tried to control the spread of AIDS with better health care services and education, but it may be too late. Only 10% of people infected with AIDS in Nigeria are getting treatment. (AIDS-AVERT) Without improvement, this could mean a horrible coinclusion, amrmageddon, for the Nigerian people.
Bibliography
Akukwe, M.D., Chinua. “Aids in Nigeria: the ticking time bomb.” AFBIS. 9 May 2001. Africa Economic Analysis. 13 May 2009 <http://www.afbis.com/analysis/aids_nigeria.htm>. This had allot of information but it was allot of opinions and did not help much.
BBC News. “Nigeria Arranges ‘HIV Marriages.’” BBC News. 4 Sept. 2008. BBC News. 15 May 2009 <http://news.bbc.co.uk>. This site was an article on HIV positive couples being pairred up for marriage by a northern Nigerian state in an attempt to reduce the spread of AIDS
“Early marriage reduces risk of HIV/AIDS - Nafada.” Journalist Against Aids Nigeria. 31 July 2008. 15 May 2009 <http://www.nigeria-aids.org/news/content.cfm/389>. Government advises youths to get married early to avoid AIDS!
“HIV and AIDS In Nigeria.” AVERT. 20 Feb. 2009. AVERT. 13 May 2009 <http://www.avert.org/aids-nigeria.htm>. This site had allot of information on AIDS and HIV and why it is spreading and about heath care and it had allot of unimportant facts like how many pregnant woman are infected.
Kates, Jennifer, and Alyssa Wilson Leggoe. “HIV / AIDS Policy Fact Sheet.” Kaiser Family Foundation. 2005. Kaiser Family Foundation. 13 May 2009 <http://www.kff.org/hivaids/7363.cfm >. Very Factual
“Nigeria: HIV/AIDS.” Global Health Reporting . org. July 2008. 13 May 2009 <http://www.globalhealthreporting.org/countries/nigeria>. This site had only a little information but it was very specific with facts.
Akukwe, M.D., Chinua. “Aids in Nigeria: the ticking time bomb.” AFBIS. 9 May 2001. Africa Economic Analysis. 13 May 2009 <http://www.afbis.com/analysis/aids_nigeria.htm>. This had allot of information but it was allot of opinions and did not help much.
BBC News. “Nigeria Arranges ‘HIV Marriages.’” BBC News. 4 Sept. 2008. BBC News. 15 May 2009 <http://news.bbc.co.uk>. This site was an article on HIV positive couples being pairred up for marriage by a northern Nigerian state in an attempt to reduce the spread of AIDS
“Early marriage reduces risk of HIV/AIDS - Nafada.” Journalist Against Aids Nigeria. 31 July 2008. 15 May 2009 <http://www.nigeria-aids.org/news/content.cfm/389>. Government advises youths to get married early to avoid AIDS!
“HIV and AIDS In Nigeria.” AVERT. 20 Feb. 2009. AVERT. 13 May 2009 <http://www.avert.org/aids-nigeria.htm>. This site had allot of information on AIDS and HIV and why it is spreading and about heath care and it had allot of unimportant facts like how many pregnant woman are infected.
Kates, Jennifer, and Alyssa Wilson Leggoe. “HIV / AIDS Policy Fact Sheet.” Kaiser Family Foundation. 2005. Kaiser Family Foundation. 13 May 2009 <http://www.kff.org/hivaids/7363.cfm >. Very Factual
“Nigeria: HIV/AIDS.” Global Health Reporting . org. July 2008. 13 May 2009 <http://www.globalhealthreporting.org/countries/nigeria>. This site had only a little information but it was very specific with facts.
Last Updated by: Caitlin Golder on May 22, 2009
