HIV Infection and Death Numbers High!

Good afternoon everyone. My name is AKIRA SHIMA.

I am a first year student here TSURU College and belong to the department of English language and literature.

Today I'm going to tell you about the HIV pandemic issue. I'm interested in this topic because recently I've come to know that most of Japanese have less interest in the HIV pandemic than people of many other countries in the world, especially in advanced countries. I believe that such lowness of the concern in HIV prevalence issue is dreadfully dangerous.

Therefore I'll tell you three points about the HIV pandemic. First, I'll show you the HIV status in the world. then, I'll cover its situation in Japan. And finally, I'll tell you the countermeasures that we should be taking in our daily lives.

The contents of my demonstration must be terribly formal but I'll make it as easy as I can. So I should be glad if you would listen to my presentation in a relaxed fashion.

So, let's begin.

The first point is HIV's status in the world.

UNAIDS--the programme run by the United Nations, World Health Organization, and World Bank--announced in its annual report on Nov. 25th 2003 that the number of newly infected and killed aids victims was highest Sub-Saharan Africa, the second highest was South and South-East Asia put together.

As you know, Sub-Saharan Africa is the most severely affected area with 3.4 million infected, two-thirds of all the infections and more than two-thirds of all death in the world. And now the total number of those infected in Sub-Saharan Africa has reached 6.7 million. In India, where sex trading and vulgar sex reigns, that those factors are believed to be the main reasons for the increase.

Eastern Europe and Central Asia has 280,000 newly infected people and total number of those infected there has risen to 700,000 infections. The main modes of transmission in Eastern Europe are believed to be unsafe sex and drug use among young people. Most of the share is men, but women account for an increasing share of newly diagnosed HIV infections, especially in the Russian Federation.

Furthermore, East Asia and the Pacific have 280,000 newly infected people and the total numbers have grown up to 800,000 infected. In China, drug abuse and prostitutes pervade their society. Up to 80% in Xingjian and 20% of addicts in Guangdong are believed to be infected.

I think that especially in the case of Sub-Saharan Africa the numbers of victims are very numerous.

I've covered HIV's status in the world.

Secondly, what is the situation in Japan?

According to the UNAIDS, Japan is suffering from a constant increase in the number of reported HIV infections. The number of HIV samples reported annually has multiplied since the 1990s to more than 600 in 2001 and 2002. In addition, in 2003 the number has enlarged to 12, 595 at least.

This increase is brought by facts of more tumescent mating activities among youngsters in Japan (shown in the increase in the percentage of juveniles who have had coupling by the time they turn 19 years of age).

Also, experts fear the factual number could be 5 times higher at least. This gap between sample data and facts tells us that drastic HIV testing has not taken place in Japan.

We have few opportunities to know whether we are infected or not.

It is a common way to have a blood test to check your blood when you give blood

donation. Only to examine whether your blood is safe of not, you can tell whether you are infected or not. However, doctors say, "Don't use the blood test for such purpose. This is not an HIV check test." This is because HIV test has not taken root in Japan.

Perhaps, the ministry of Health, Welfare and Labour has already announced the information that when and where the HIV check test is going to be held, but the announcement has not spread down among the populace. Most of us do not know when and where the HIV check is going to be held. This must be the government's fault.

On the other hand, there must be faults on our side. Aren't we contrary to be so ignorant about HIV issues even though the ignorance endangers ourselves?

It is strange that Japanese people seldom know about aids compared with people in many other countries. In addition, generally speaking, when we hear the words "HIV" or "AIDS", most of us tend to think of this issue as a matter of others. Interestingly, Japanese are likely to think, "Only we are secured" somehow or other. This explains the lowness of concern of Japanese about HIV.

Why are we ignorant about the dangerous virus even though knowledge would protect our lives? I do not want to die of infection with HIV but I do not know much about aids and the preventive measures I can take.

I've covered HIV status in Japan.

Then, how can we protect ourselves?

These days, there are many methods to guard ourselves from HIV infection. I want to tell you two points to defend us from the aids virus.

The first point is to keep away from other's blood. However, this does not mean we should not touch someone's blood completely. If a friend of yours was injured, of course, you can help her/him. The important point is that you should not introduce his blood into your body. If you were also injured, you cannot touch his cut. Through your injury, the virus will invade your body.

Secondly, people say it is important to use condoms. However, this does not pervade among youngsters. Boys and girls say it will be rather good without condoms. Yes, of course, I do not deny them. However, thinking of the risk of infection, it is clear. Recently there are increasing numbers of youths who spend their days with temperance.

The third point is your mind. It is crucial point where you can believe you are not infected with AIDS virus.

To summarise this research, it is urgent for us to know about AIDS much more to protect ourselves.

Thank you for your attention. Are there any comments? Any questions? That is all.

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Thank you for your attention. Are there any questions?