AIDS is a disease that destroys a person's immune system, making the body prone to fatal diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis and other viral infections. This disease occurs mainly in countries with a large percentage of drug addicted populations, where injection equipment (syringes and needles) that can be contaminated with the virus are used. Do not forget also about unprotected sex, which is one of the main ways of spreading AIDS. New types of vaccines and drugs for this disease are now being developed, but scientists still cannot find a way to stop it. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the list of countries in which the largest number of AIDS patients live.
1. South Africa
South Africa is the country with the highest number of HIV patients. 5 million 600 thousand patients have a positive status here, which is a very alarming situation. These numbers mean that 12% of the entire South African population suffers from this problem. An estimated 310,000 people die each year due to the disease. The country is trying to do everything it can to control the disease, but this requires additional information campaigns among the population.
2. Botswana
In this country, the first case of HIV infection was registered in 1985. Nonetheless, Botswana is ranked second in the world in terms of the number of people with AIDS. According to WHO estimates, about 320 thousand people are now infected. The disease strongly affects the development of a nation, and the death rate is increasing at an alarming rate. It is clear that the government needs to take effective measures to combat the disease.
3. India
India is the third country in the world in terms of the number of HIV-infected people. According to statistics, 2.4 million people are infected here. The problem is exacerbated by the poverty of local residents, as a huge number of people are unable to seek medical help. The southeastern and northeastern provinces are most affected by AIDS. India really needs educational programs that would raise the level of knowledge of the population about this problem.
4. Kenya
In Kenya, 1.5 million people are infected with HIV. Population health has improved over the past few years and HIV prevalence has declined, but the government still has a lot to do to stop the disease.
5. Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is the fifth largest country in the world in terms of the number of people living with AIDS, with an HIV prevalence rate of about 14.9%. The situation in the country has improved thanks to awareness-raising campaigns launched by the government. In addition, in 2003 the rate of the so-called "brain drain" in the country was 22.1%. 14 years later, professional health care in Zimbabwe has improved, and the picture of the spread of AIDS confirms this.
6. USA
Are you surprised? As you can see, AIDS is a disaster not only in third world countries. The United States ranks sixth in terms of the number of people living with AIDS. It is believed that immigrants brought HIV to the United States in the 1960s. The eastern and southern states were found to be more contaminated than other coastal regions. According to the latest figures, 1,148,200 American citizens are infected with HIV.
7. Democratic Republic of the Congo
About 1 million 100 thousand people in Congo suffer from AIDS. This country was the first in Africa to be exposed to a fatal disease. Unprotected intercourse is reported to be the main cause of disease transmission.
8. Mozambique
A total of 11.3% of Mozambicans are infected with AIDS. The nation is facing a serious rate of HIV infection.
9. Tanzania
In total, about 1.4 million people in Tanzania are HIV positive. Statistics show that women are more likely to suffer from this disease (60%) than men. The disease kills 86,000 people every year.
10. Malawi
10% of Malawi's population is HIV positive. 68 thousand people die from AIDS here every year. Previously, the Malawi government was not very active in the fight against the disease, but over time, it began to show more interest in controlling this epidemic, and today the situation in the country is improving.
