SUNS  4332 Thursday 26 November 1998



AFRICA: AIDS CRISIS THREATENS DEVELOPMENT GAINS

London, Nov 24 (IPS/Alex Whiting) -- The AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa is wiping out significant development gains built up over the last few decades in countries worst affected by the disease -- and it will do more damage if countries do not act swiftly.
According to a new report launched here Tuesday, the nine worst-affected countries are Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Africa is home to 22.5 million people living with the HIV virus, which causes AIDS.

"It is not a coincidence that the poorest continent is also the worst affected and without special efforts we won't be able to stop one of the biggest obstacles to economic development," said Peter Piot, Executive Director of the United Nations' AIDS agency (UNAIDS).

The report, 'AIDS Epidemic Update: December 1998', says that life expectancy at birth -- a key measure of human development -- is being slashed in the worst-affected countries. In countries where at least 10 percent of the adult population has HIV, have lost 17 years of life expectancy.

In Botswana, where more than 25 percent of adults are infected, children who are born early next decade will have a statistical life expectancy of just over 40 years. Without the AIDS crisis that life
span would be extended to 70 years.

As a result, Botswana has dropped 26 places down the Human Development Index, a ranking of countries that takes into account wealth, literacy and life expectancy.

And as a result of more adults dying, many children are finding themselves without parents. The burden on surviving relatives can prove to be too much -- 45 percent of those caring for orphans are
grandparents, often with no income of their own.

"AIDS is a deadly serious public health threat," said David Heymann, Executive Director of the Communicable Diseases Cluster at the World Health Organisation. "But, as the epidemic continues to spin out of control, countries face more than just a health crisis. They face a growing threat to human development and to economic and social stability."

In the worst-affected countries, the epidemic is decimating a limited pool of skilled workers and managers.

In Zimbabwe some companies have reported that AIDS costs are now absorbing as much as one-fifth of company earnings and firms in Tanzania and Zambia estimate that AIDS illness and death cost them more than their total profits for the year.

"The impact on development in general is becoming enormous. You see households pushed into poverty, skyrocketing medical costs, profits going down for businesses and if the international community doesn't invest in HIV prevention today, it will have to invest in food aid tomorrow," said Piot.

But Clare Short, Britain's chief minister for development cooperation, points out that motivation in the West is low.