A PROPOSED PAPER ON "INFO TECH AND THE EFFECTS OF HIV/AIDS ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT" PRESENTED BY NDUKWE GENEVIEVE - GOLD; PROGRAM OFFICER (HEALTH); INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR AFRICAN CHILDREN (IFAC) ON THE OCCASION OF Taking IT Global (TIG) CONFERENCE HELD AT SUG HALL - UNILAG AKOKA LAGOS NIGERIA ON 20th SEPTEMBER 2003.
On behalf of all members of TIG, I welcome you all to this great event, which is taking place in Nigeria today and in the world of TIG.
Really, much has been said about Info Tech and the effects of HIV/AIDS on youth development in recent time but the key problem is that less social, positive action has been taken to actualize this.
For us to assimilate this topic very well, I would like to discuss what HIV/AIDS is, the types, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, HIV/AIDS and special population, the economic impact of AIDS in Nigeria, on household, on firms, on agriculture, health, transport, education, mining, prevention of HIV/AIDS and roles that can reduce youth undevelopment due to HIV/AIDS.
What is HIV?
HIV means Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This is the virus that causes AIDS.
Human - means that the virus only affects human beings.
Immunodeficiency - means that the body’s immune system is weakened.
Virus- a microscopic organism that can cause disease.
AIDS - means Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
This is the condition of an HIV positive person when the body is affected by a lot of disease conditions.
Acquired: means it is transmitted from one person to another through some specific means.
Immune Deficiency - the breaking down of the body’s defense mechanism.
Syndrome: is a collection of different signs and symptoms of disease.
AIDS was first recognized in United States of America in the year 1981 and has since then, become pandemic.
HIV which was insolated
In 1983 causes the destruction and malfunction of the CD4+T cells that are the make up of the body’s immune system. When this happens, the body’s ability to fight infection is impaired.
In Nigeria, the first diagnosed case of HIV was made known in 1986. It has infact risen steadily since then over the years from 1.8% in 1993 to 5.8% in 2001. As at 2001, 3.5 million Nigerians were already infected. The most vulnerable age group being 15 - 24 years who are the youths in a good reproductive and economic productive segment.
Types - HIV 1 and HIV 2
HIV 1 is found in the whole world while HIV 2 is common in West Africa.
The time between the entrance of this organism into the body and the production of antibodies against the antigen is called the window period. This is always between 3 - 6 months and a sero-positive individual can transmit the virus to another person even when it is not yet confirmed to be in the blood stream.
Modes of Transmission
The Four major ways are:
1. Sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral or anal)
2. Receiving of contaminated blood and blood products and transplant of organs and tissues as in surgical repairs.
3. Use of contaminated instruments like needles, syringes, razor and other piercing objects.
4. Mother to child transmission (in uteri, during birth or breast feeding).
5. Other body fluids like tears; saliva and sweat may contain the HIV but does not contain enough viruses to infect a person.
HIV is not transmitted through toilets or showers, coughing or sneezing, swimming pools, sharing food and drinks, hugging, touching or hands shaking, mosquito bite, public phone, kissing and sharing of eating utensils.
Signs and symptoms
These include:
- Severe weight loss greater than 10% body weight.
- Persistent fever lasting more than one month.
- Severe fatigue
- Cough for more than one month.
- Diarrhea lasting more than one month (on and off)
- Itchy skin rashes
- Thrush in the month and throat.
- Swollen glands at more than one site for over 3 months
- Cold sores all over the body.
HIV/AIDS and Special Population
The issue of HIV/AIDS cannot be concluded without mentioning the special group of people that are easily prone to it due to the nature of their work or whom they are.
These include women, children, commercial sex workers, oil workers, military, long distance drivers, youths and refugees including internally displaced individuals.
The fight may not be won until special consideration is given to this special population by way of education, public enlightenment and implementation of any designed policy concerning them. Infact, both sexes are involved in the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The Economic Impact of AIDS in Nigeria
Since youths are the leaders of tomorrow and the most productive age group, the impact of AIDS cannot be over emphasized as this affects the economic structure of the nation through reduction in labour supply as the loss of most young adults will affect the economic output. There will also be increased cost as the little savings may be used in purchasing the retroviral drugs and paying for other medical bills and funeral expenses. If there are no savings, eventually, there will be reduction in investment thereby retarding economic growth.
Economic Impact of Aids on Household
The household suffers once a member of the family is infected with AIDS. The family income is always affected as the person may be the breadwinner of the family and the little earning is used for his medical bills. Of course, one of the children may be removed from school so as to care for him or because the school fees cannot be paid as there is much expenditure coming into the family. Death will cause permanent loss of job and loss of income to the whole family as well.
Economic Impact of AIDS on Agriculture
In most African countries, agriculture has been the largest sector accounting for a large portion of production and greater employment opportunity. AIDS causes loss of income and labour supply as significant loss of farmers who are infected will affect the planting and harvesting periods thereby resulting into drought and decreased harvest.
Economic Impact of AIDS on Firms
The economic impact of AIDS on firms cannot be over emphasized as illness and deaths of employees affect it by increasing expenditure and reducing revenues. Expenditure will be affected due to health care cost, burial, training and recruitment of replacement employees. Decrease in revenue may be due to absenteeism as a result of ill health, or funeral attendance and time spent on training which also leads to less productive labour force.
Economic Effects of AIDS on Health Sector
As the health sector is affected, there will be increased number of people seeking for health services and as a result, the attention of the government will be diverted to prevention of HIV infection, treatment of AIDS patients, treatment of other illness, spending for health and for other objectives. The health workers are also affected as they commonly handle blood and blood products and if any is infected unknowingly, it could cause lack of quality professionals.
Effects on transport
This sector is very important in the prevention of HIV and also vulnerable to HIV. For this sector to be maintained, long distance drivers are always
away from their families for a long time thereby exposing the man to multiple sexual partners. If they are infected and being highly trained professionals also, it will be difficult to replace them. This in turn causes loss of economy, re-infection of their spouses and death of employees who are infected.
Effects on Mining
Mining is a source of foreign exchange in many countries like Nigeria. When the workers are sent far away from their homes and they stay long, there is the possibility that they will resort to commercial sex and subsequent spreading to their spouses when they come back home. Loss of mining engineers also affects the mine production thereby decreasing the revenue generated from the mining sector.
Effects on Education
Once the educational sector is affected, children may be stopped from going to school so as to care for the affected family member. They may also be withdrawn as there is not sufficient income to balance expenses from medical bills and school fees. Teachers infected may reduce the number of experienced teachers that can teach in the schools.
Teenagers being the most susceptible age group also become a problem, as they need to be taught how to protect themselves from being infected by HIV/AIDS.
Prevention of HIV/AIDS
1. Abstain from sexual intercourse.
2. Be faithful to one sexual partner. Try to know the HIV status of your partner and talk about your sexual history.
3. Use latex condoms every time you have vaginal, oral or anal sex.
4. Treat medically any case of sexually transmitted infection (STI) which you might have.
5. Do not share razor, needles and other piercing instruments with any one.
6. Emphasize dual protection if possible in polygamous settings.
7. If pregnant and infected, see a doctor for advice.
8. Have a medical check-up and do HIV screening once in 6 months to know your status as early diagnosis gives greater chance of survival than prolonged infection.
Roles that can reduce youth undevelopment due to HIV/AIDS
1. Dialogue can be stimulated by encouraging youths to discuss causes and likely risk behaviours.
2. Increase in awareness through language that the youth and society can understand.
3. Communicating with the society in terms of influencing a positive social response can reduce stigma and discrimination.
4. Policy makers and opinion leaders can discuss the issue of HIV/AIDS and how it affects youth development in the country by initiating positive programme.
5. Those youths infected and affected with HIV/AIDS should be cared for.
In conclusion, some situations in the country really militate against youth development in relation to HIV/AIDS pandemic. This includes: -
1. Government policies that do not have direct bearing on youth development.
2. Inadequate financial resources and wrong channeling of these resources when released for these projects.
3. Increase in unemployment and poverty, which is escalated everyday due to poor economic policies.
4. Lack of adequate programme that can rehabilitate the Nigeria youths.
5. Nigeria Youth withdrawal from involvement due to unfriendly situations in the rural and urban areas.
6. Lack of education and training of Nigeria youths.
7. The influence of culture and religious beliefs on the family and community.
As members of TIG, we have roles to play towards ensuring that the issue of HIV/AIDS and its influential power in the growth of the community and youth development becomes outdated. We cannot fold our hands and continue to allow things to go wrong. This is the time to sit up and initiate some challenging programs, discussions, workshops or any other mass enlightenment campaign. This can go a long way in ensuring that the Nigerian youths are aware of their problems. That will also show that we are moving forward towards reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria as it affects youth development.
