by Chinazo Echezona-Johnson

Created on: January 17, 2008

As a respected and recognized global leader with the backing of a strong democratic government, monetary and scientific resources, United States America can have a great impact in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS in third world countries. If the United States was concerned enough to immerse themselves in the political and economical plight of the Middle East as a concern for the safety of American citizens, then it is imperative that the fight against HIV/AIDS should be equally very important for the same goal American public safety. Unlike 911 that took the lives of so many Americans in a day, HIV/AIDS is transmitted to many Americans, and will continue to kill many people every day.

Some of the ways that the HIV/AIDS in Caribbean can affect the HIV/AIDS rate in this country are through immigration, tourism, business contact and finance.

With the arrival of immigrants into the United States every day, the spread of HIV/AIDS will continue to increase in the United States. Some of these immigrants with HIV/AIDS will be hired as domestic help or into service areas where they will expose others to the virus. Secondly, international traveling, tourism and international business contact will expose Americans to this deadly virus. Finally, HIV/AIDS will eventually affect America government financially. If the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the high mortality of the disease continue at this rate in the third world countries, chances are that it will eventually affect United States travel, tourism, import and export business, e.t.c.

Some critics will argue that Americans don't need to care about number s or percentages of mortality in other countries because HIV/AIDS is somewhat contained in the USA. However, Americans should know that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in third world countries should be considered as a public health issue in the United States. As with the other public health issues that Americans have encountered in history, the best way to control the spread of this deadly virus is to dedicate time and efforts in the education, prevention, and eventually in the treatment. With the HIV/AIDS infections are other opportunistic infections that can be detrimental when transmitted. Some of these infections are TB, shingles and herpes.

On the other hand, one will argue that the American government is already doing its part by funding for the eradication and treatment of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean. However, this financial assistance should be rendered without any morality constraints. The financial aid should not only be for treatment of the HIV/AIDS, but also for providing ways to stop the behaviors that promote the spread of this deadly virus. The United States has the power to make HIV drugs available to these impoverished countries. The Caribbean government should be given alternatives to deal with some of the issues that predispose their citizens to HIV/AIDS, for instance, monitoring of the jail system to minimize overcrowding, providing condoms to prostitutes, legalizing prostitution, and providing needle exchange for drug abusers. These actions should not be seen as a way of promoting immorality, but as way to prevent the inception of this deadly virus.

As a global leader, the onus is on the United States of America to lead the way to fight this deadly global epidemic.

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