- Nov 5, 2005
- 1,221
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The Muslim population in Africa represents about 65% of all the African people. AIDS kills some 6,000 people each day in Africa, which amounts to more deaths than caused by wars, famines and floods. Africa is home to 70% of the adults and 80% of the children living with HIV in the world. The estimated number of newly infected adults and children in Africa reached 3.5 million at the end of 2001. It has also been estimated that 28.5 million adults and children were living with HIV/AIDS in Africa by the end of the year. AIDS deaths totaled 3 million globally in 2001, and of that total, 2.2 million AIDS deaths occurred in Africa alone.
(source:UNAIDS)
In some countries, most notably Uganda and Senegal, there have been notable successes in the fight against AIDS, but a lot remains to be done.
Senegal: Senegal, where 92% of the population is Muslim, has one of the lowest rates of HIV infection in Africa. This is due to strong political support for prevention programs from the very beginning of the disease. Senegal stands for one of Africa's success stories in the fight against AIDS. An estimated 2% of the population (10 million) is thought to carry the HIV infection. This compares to rates of between 20% and 30% in other countries of the continent. Instead of denying the reality of the danger of the disease, Senegal's government began to take energetic measures to prevent the spread of the infection, as long ago as 1989. The country's religious leaders tolerate an open discussion about sex education and do not discourage programs, which make condoms available to young people. Prostitution is carefully controlled. The prostitutes are required to have regular medical check-ups and are thoroughly educated on the risk from HIV/AIDS. It is a country where people are tolerant and accepting. It is not a taboo for the Muslim Senegalese to talk about condoms and safe sexual relationships in the marriage boundaries. Condoms are even discussed in schools during classes about "Family Economy". The tolerance and the existence of institutions as JAMRA (i.e spark), a highly successful Islamic organization, which started off working against drug use and youth delinquency among young people, now mainly, focuses on HIV/AIDS. These are just some of the reasons for the low rate of HIV infected people in this country.
http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/october02_index.php?l=4
(source:UNAIDS)
In some countries, most notably Uganda and Senegal, there have been notable successes in the fight against AIDS, but a lot remains to be done.
Senegal: Senegal, where 92% of the population is Muslim, has one of the lowest rates of HIV infection in Africa. This is due to strong political support for prevention programs from the very beginning of the disease. Senegal stands for one of Africa's success stories in the fight against AIDS. An estimated 2% of the population (10 million) is thought to carry the HIV infection. This compares to rates of between 20% and 30% in other countries of the continent. Instead of denying the reality of the danger of the disease, Senegal's government began to take energetic measures to prevent the spread of the infection, as long ago as 1989. The country's religious leaders tolerate an open discussion about sex education and do not discourage programs, which make condoms available to young people. Prostitution is carefully controlled. The prostitutes are required to have regular medical check-ups and are thoroughly educated on the risk from HIV/AIDS. It is a country where people are tolerant and accepting. It is not a taboo for the Muslim Senegalese to talk about condoms and safe sexual relationships in the marriage boundaries. Condoms are even discussed in schools during classes about "Family Economy". The tolerance and the existence of institutions as JAMRA (i.e spark), a highly successful Islamic organization, which started off working against drug use and youth delinquency among young people, now mainly, focuses on HIV/AIDS. These are just some of the reasons for the low rate of HIV infected people in this country.
http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/october02_index.php?l=4