Africa
The AIDS virus has been circulating among people for about 100 years, decades longer than scientists had thought, a new study suggests.
Genetic analysis pushes the estimated origin of HIV back to between 1884 and 1924, with a more focused estimate at 1908. Previously, scientists had estimated the origin at around 1930. AIDS wasn’t recognized formally until 1981 when it got the attention of public health officials in the United States.
On the 24th and 25th of August, FORGE, founded by 2008 Do Something Award Finalist Kjerstin Erickson, will be co-hosting the event series Boston for Africa to support, benefit, and bring attention to a global challenge that affects us all.
Last updated by newworks08 on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 17:41.
Malaria is the leading cause of the child mortality crisis in Africa. According to the Center for Disease Control, this preventable and treatable disease is still endemic in 106 nations, killing more than one million people per year. Ninety percent of Malaria related deaths are suffered by Sub-Saharan African children under the age of five. In this region, it is estimated that one child dies every 30 seconds from malaria related illness.
The area of our project focus is Mali, West Africa.
Last updated by Jessicajorr on Mon, 06/30/2008 - 10:14.
•Current FACTS•
An updated Oxfam report also notes the following facts
(some numbers may be out of date and have gotten worse, but the sheer
scale of these numbers alone are shocking):
! More than two million people are internally displaced; of these, over 50
per cent are in eastern DRC. More than one million of the displaced have
received absolutely no outside assistance.
! It is estimated that up to 2.5 million people in DRC have died since the
outbreak of the war, many from preventable diseases.
!
Last updated by Galen4est on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 18:43.
Swaziland has the highest concentration of HIV/AIDS in the world, with two-fifths of the adult population infected. The life expectancy there is 40 years, and in 2003, 17,000 deaths occurred due to AIDS. This constant devastation of the population has resulted in many households run entirely by children, and the number of orphans grows every day.
The goal of our project is to improve the educational facilities and programs within rural Swaziland. With the money that we acquire we will build a preschool for the children of the village, KaPhunga.
Last updated by tyedyesnowflake on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 22:51.
Well over 3/4 of the AIDS cases in the world are in sub-Saharan Africa, in countries like Kenya. The people have come to believe "wives tales" such as using a condom won't prevent AIDS because the virus slips through tiny holes in condoms. Due to such stories, many, many people don't protect themselves at all!
Last updated by tazzispriteevenbars on Thu, 06/26/2008 - 20:29.
Last updated by alifletcher11 on Wed, 05/28/2008 - 19:18.
I will be going to Tanzania for two weeks with Village Care International to educate the community on HIV and AIDs and also to help orphaned children. We will be helping communities understand healthy living practices and spending time with the children orphaned due to AIDS.
Last updated by RaheemH on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 20:19.
As a frequent attendant of the local 24 Hour Fitness Gyms, I noticed that the bottles and cans frequently consumed by the fitness enthusiasts were always being thrown away inside the regular trash. However, with such a strong message in the community to recycle, I felt that it was necessary to make a change for both the environment and the world. In California, a CRV tax is placed on every single beverage container purchased. However, there are many recycling stations were the CRV can be redeemed, with a proceed of $.05 for containers less than 24 oz.
