ETHIOPIA IS FIGHTING A SEEMINGLY LOSING BATTLE AGAINST THE AIDS EPIDEMIC. WITH OVER 3 MILLION PEOPLE INFECTED WITH THE HIV VIRUS, THE COUNTRY FACES A DAUNTING TASK, BEING THE SECOND COUNTRY WITH THE HIGHEST INFECTION RATES IN AFRICA. IT IS NO LONGER SEEN AS JUST A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, BUT AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CRISIS FOR THE ENTIRE CONTINENT.
Society's fittest, not its frailest, are the ones who die -adults spirited away, leaving the old and the children behind. HIV infection rates of Ethiopian magnitude severely affect the country's economic progress. An HIV+ man slowly makes his way back to his room after having taken his medicines. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.
85% of the population live in rural areas, where the spread of AIDS is higher. Most prostitutes come from rural areas to the urban centers in search of work. A 15 year-old prostitute gets ready before the night begins, in one of the many brothels that are found around the country. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.
Ignorance is the crucial reason the epidemic has run out of control. This young man was a farmer and a music player. After becoming HIV+, his hands couldn't play any instrument any more. His wife, who presumably got infected with HIV from him, was still healthier and took care of him in the hostpital. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.
Ethiopia's big stigma regarding the disease means that many HIV+ are expelled from their families and have no other option but to face their future alone, either in crowded hospitals or in one of the organizations set up by local NGOs. Northern Ehiopia, 2006.
Without savings to fall back on, many HIV+ parents pull their kids out of school. They can't afford the fees and end up selling their few possessions to feed the family. When they die, their kids are left with nothing. Extreme poverty forced these orphaned boys with AIDS and TB to seek refuge in one of the local NGOs that are found around the country. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.
According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), approximately 3.2 million Ethiopians are living with HIV/AIDS. Many are so poor to sustain themselves after becoming sick that they have to seek refuge in some of the organizations found in the country. As they wait for either recovery or death, they witness how others get better, or die. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.
A woman affected by HIV/AIDS is plunged further into poverty, losing the ability to provide for herself and her children. This woman's husband had died of AIDS 7 years ago. Now suffering from AIDS herself, and unable to maintain her two children, she had to rely on her mother to be able to survive, eating one meal a day and not having enough money to buy medicines. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.
It is presumed that if you get AIDS, you have done something wrong. HIV labels you as living an immoral life. Ethiopia's big stigma regarding the disease means that many HIV+ are expelled from their families and have no other option but to face their future alone, either in crowded hospitals or in one of the organizations set up by local NGOs. Northern Ehiopia, 2006.
A woman suffering from AIDS and TB. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.
Most HIV infections in Ethiopia are concentrated in the 15–24 age group, and young women are particularly vulnerable. The majority of people do not know how or when they caught the virus, many never know they have it, and many who do know don't tell anyone as they lie dying. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.
Many HIV+ persons are so poor to sustain themselves after becoming sick that they have to seek refuge in some of the organizations found in the country. As they wait for either recovery or death, they witness how others get better, or die. Northern Ethiopia, 2006.
It is presumed that if you get AIDS, you have done something wrong. HIV labels you as living an immoral life. Ethiopia's big stigma regarding the disease means that many HIV+ are expelled from their families and have no other option but to face their future alone, either in crowded hospitals or in one of the organizations set up by local NGOs. Northern Ehiopia, 2006.
