HIV / AIDS in Africa: rethinking current strategies.

According to the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS at least 28.1 million Africans are living with HIV/AIDS. Since the beginning of the epidemic in early 1980s more than 19 million Africans have perished. Largely due to AIDS the average life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa has dropped to 47 years from 62. Africa’s existing HIV/AIDS remedial strategies can be summarized as follows: 1) searching for financial resources; 2) establishing political leadership; 3) providing access to antiretroviral therapy; 4) conducting culturally appropriate education campaigns to prevent new infections; and 5) revamping healthcare and other basic infrastructure. Overall it was pointed out that Africa should rethink existing strategies and work towards implementing an aggressive proactive and resourceful response to the epidemic.