Environmental Health Factors Impacting HIV/AIDS
By Jocelyn Salada
Since the
human-immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS) were first recognized by global health organizations in the early 1980s,
the disease has cut a swath through much of the impoverished world. Sub-Saharan
Africa, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and urban centers
worldwide have all witnessed significant rates of HIV infection and
AIDS-related death. Recently, experts have noted the strong link between
regions where HIV/AIDS is rampant and the environmental health science factors
specific to those areas.
Climate plays a crucial role in the dynamic
between HIV/AIDS and the general population. Worldwide medical experts agree
that a nutritious diet is fundamental for an infected patient; the proper
balance of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and other essential nutrients
effectively builds the patient’s immune system and counteracts the disease.
However, in many parts of the world, agricultural growth is hampered by extreme
weather patterns—and thus, local populations may not have access to the food
they need. In her article, “HIV/AIDS
in Africa: Fertile Terrain,” Eileen Stillwagon, an Economics professor at
Gettysburg College, notes that malnutrition increases the risk of many common
childhood and adult diseases, such as measles, diarrhea, malaria and
respiratory infections. Many of these conditions are commonplace in HIV/AIDS
hot zones; unsafe drinking water, air pollution and other factors related to
poverty are often named as the root cause(s).
Thanks to the advent
of anti-retro viral (ARV) medications, HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence,
but a treatable chronic illness. However, Steve Humphreys of The Earth
Times notes that many infected citizens are unable to acquire the necessary
ARV drugs, due to low finances and lack of access to proper clinics in rural
areas. As a result, AIDS-related casualties in some Third World countries are
so high that the work force has been disproportioned, leading to food
shortages, poor productivity and supply chain issues. “When rural families
leave or are no longer able to work the fields, land becomes ever more degraded
and unproductive,” Humphreys writes. He adds that some companies in Africa and
South America provide their employees with complimentary condoms and protective
measures to keep their employees HIV-free. However, global health experts agree
that the cyclical relationship between HIV infection rates/AIDS-related deaths
and poor local environmental health has complicated the search for long-term
solutions—especially considering that most of the problem areas have poor local
economies.
Notably, significant progress has been made
in the fight against HIV/AIDS over the years. However, complete eradication
will not take place until every community in the world has the resources—and
manpower—to sustain itself. For this reason, HIV/AIDS, global poverty and
environmental health are all deeply interconnected.
