AIDS

It is estimated that 40 million people worldwide are infected with HIV, the virus which leads to AIDS. According to the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care, "On average, about 8,000 - 10,000 people daily will be infected with HIV, 90 percent from developing countries". These new HIV infections are more common in women than men, for the latter are more efficient transmitters." Since women (who are the caretakers of their families), are being devastated by AIDS, there is a terrible problem of children left orphaned.

In 1991, Food For Children was given a grant of $450,000 from the Langer foundation to go to Uganda and try to help out. The result was a program of nutritional support for HIV-infected women and their children provided by the Daughters of Charity and Nsambya Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. Even though there was little that could be done to prevent their deaths, at least these women (and their children) received nutritious food and a better quality of life until they succumbed to AIDS.

Today there have been advances in the treatment of AIDS. But because the cost of providing for therapies to treat AIDS in developing countries is prohibitive, the world community should take steps towards making AIDS medications affordable and available worldwide.

Since the AIDS epidemic is escalating, there is a further impact on the proliferation of other diseases, such as tuberculosis coinfection, and cancer. In spite of all efforts to date, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death in developing nations.