Why can people with HIV/AIDS get help from their own governments?
Over 95% of people with HIV/AIDS live in the developing world, where governments are struggling with serious economic and social problems, and in some cases, political instability. Some countries like Senegal, Uganda, and Thailand have succeeded in reducing HIV infection rates. But more resources are required to scale up community-based programs and cope with the epidemic’s impacts. Many developing countries spend as little as $10 per person per year on health care—far too little to provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS services, much less universal access to antiretroviral medications. In many cases, the foreign debt burden on poor countries significantly reduces the amount they can invest in essential health and social programs, including HIV/AIDS services. Some national leaders remain in denial about the impact of AIDS on their people and societies. And people living with HIV/AIDS are often excluded from decision-making about how to use scarce resources.
