BARRIERS TO HIV RESPONSE IN EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA



East and Southern Africa has been listed among the most affected in terms of AIDS related illnesses in the past years. This has made the affected areas lag behind in terms of development as most people are get affected hence losing potential people who have knowledge for innovations and required labor skills.
Despite East and Southern Africa been listed as the most affected they are various barriers that affect the end of HIV/AIDS in these parts. These include:
STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION.
It is a major barrier that greatly affects the ability to solve HIV in East and Southern Africa. Peoples cultural beliefs about HIV in terms of religion, its contamination and sexuality. The views from general people about HIV positive persons have greatly contributed to the rise in stigmatization hence the infected victims do not get courage to visit VCT centers since they fear knowing their status.
STRUCTURAL AND RESOURCE BARRIERS.
This is as a result of increased “brain drain” of medical officers to high income earning countries as a result there is less medical officers to take care of the victims. Movement of medical officers from rural to urban areas has also greatly affected the infected in these parts of East and Southern Africa.
THE STATUS OF WOMEN.
Most women especially young girls are denied the chance to access employment, education and healthcare. This makes men to demoralize them. Making same sex, drug abuse and sex work has been made illegal hence inability to access HIV services.
DATA ISSUES.
Through taking of data on the number of people infected with HIV, a country is able to account for the amount of funds to use in taking care of their infected people. In East and Southern Africa, lack the accountancy of infected with HIV hence no proper care is given to the infected persons. This is due to lack of technical capacity, human resource availability and proper coordination.

BASED ON BASIC KNOWLEDGE AND REFERENCES FROM THE UNAID FOR LEARNT KNOWLEDGE.
Nderitu Rose

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