Hiv and Human Capital

HIV/AIDS and Human Capital

The largest problem influencing countries today is economic growth and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The primary point in this paper is education and economy growth plays a major role in the influence of all countries. Some of the information provided comes from my on personal knowledge working in the HIV/AIDS community and for the facilities built in Nigeria and Angola.

HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to be on the fore front of health issues in Africa and remote areas of Latin America. People living in isolated areas have limited access to the outside world. In some parts of the world no one has seen anyone other than his or her own villagers, or tribesman. The villagers and tribesman continue the same survival techniques they learned from relatives, other villagers or tribesman.

The World Health Organization was formed to share information and educate the world on HIV/AIDS. During the first meeting every country's representative shared their countries educations, medical, and organizational programs. The meetings helped each representative understand the roadblocks and lack of resources. The expectation of the meeting is to handle the slowing down and prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS. One of the focal points everyone could agree upon was educating people would stop or prevent the spread of the disease.

The underdeveloped countries main problem was the lack of education and trust among their people. The primary population consisted of uneducated and unwilling heterosexuals not wanting to change their sexual practices. Additionally, the lack of financial resources to pay for medication that could slow down the advancement of the disease did not exist. Another point representatives could not agree upon was when a person with HIV changed classification to AIDS.

Health should be a responsibility of everyone and equitable availability to health care and the transmittal of diseases. World Health Organization's goal is to share the wealth of this responsibility to each country. Through World Health Organization's initiative the death rate of children under the age of five fell 30% in 2008 since 1990. As of 2006 known Nigerians affected with HIV/AIDS needing antiviral medication was 840,000 and only 26% at the most received the medication. In South Africa during the same year, 1,200,000 known cases needing the antiviral medication but only approximately 39% were receiving the medication. (WHO, 2010)

In Africa 20 countries represent 85% of the mother-to child transmission of HIV. One thing to remember not all mother-to-child HIV transmissions are permanent. Some babies born with HIV turn after a few months and become HIV clear. The term "turn" means the HIV reverses itself and vanishes from the blood stream. The various government entities in Africa have joined forces with UNICEF to receive grants and resources to eliminate the mother-to-child transmission by 2015. The elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission in developed countries has been significantly reduced. Africa has determined the lack of developed countries in their nation contributes greatly to the spread of the HIV epidemic. (WHO, 2010)

Some countries in Africa and Latin America were extremely debt laden until 2010. The debt relief initiative started in 1996 to relieve 40 countries of approximately $35 billion of debt. The debt was created because of HIV/AIDS, drought and famine that crippled the economic growth of these countries. The debt relief allowed the underdeveloped countries a jump start to the economic growth without repaying the money. One of the requirements necessary for the countries to receive the relief was to put guidelines in place to avoid future accumulation of debt. Additionally, the requirement was not only to have guidelines in place but also demonstrate each country could manage their resources and invest in human capital. (WHO, 2010)

Healthcare and education distributed throughout these countries could increase income distribution. Educating people on diseases will improve quality of life and income levels. Economists agree that concentrating resources on basic healthcare and education is highly effective and ensures more equality. (Adelman, & Taft, 1973)

The definition of equity varies by country and people. Equity as defined for this paper means fairness. (Case, Fair, & Oster, 2009) In most developing countries inequity is more prevalent than equity. The basic inequities in underdeveloped countries are caused by income, education, and opportunity. In addition to the lack of income, education, and opportunity most countries have political conflict that adds to the lack of cohesion needed to over come poverty. Africa and Latin America have large amounts of rural areas that contribute to the poor economic growth. (Mellor, 1969)

The wage earning of underdeveloped countries and developed countries with political conflict contribute to low wages and lack of savings. Low wages are paid because the educations of the people are far below other countries. Sometimes education is not the main factor for low wages. For example, India has a large population of well educated individuals primarily in the software, technological, and medical field. However, the political and social environment forces the educated individuals to look outside their country to enhance their economic growth. The average software developer in India receives approx. $8 an hour and the same developer working in the United States receives $85 an hour. Additionally, the software developer normally has multiple certifications compared to a software