Vulnerable Population
Melonie Lindsey
HCA 430
Regina Brown
February 3, 2014
HIV and AIDS victims are some of the most Vulnerable Population. Providing care to these individuals provides challenge to family, friend, and even health care officials. HIV and AIDS victims are vulnerable to social stigma, and discrimination. HIV can affect anyone irrespective of age, gender or tribe. Hence, it is an issue that affects the entire population. This means it should be taken with the seriousness it deserves. Taking of the seriousness of HIV, one cannot forget to note that HIV is sexually transmitted disease, and the affected people have the high chances of spreading the virus (Johanson, 2008).
Children are the most Vulnerable Population among victims living with HIV. Providing the required care to kids is challenging to family members, and the entire health care system. Taking care of this population requires care, and support. These kids are Vulnerable to various infections, and terminal illness. Care must be taken early enough, to prevent early death of child victims.
Homosexuals and transgender groups are also Vulnerable Population in relation to HIV. This is especially true in nations where same sex marriage is illegal. It becomes hard to take care of HIV infections, as well as coming up with preventive measures. Homosexual are more likely to get HIV that straight people. Hence, they require adequate care, on issues related to HIV (Tielman, Carballo, & Hendriks, 1991).
People living with HIV face social challenges related to discrimination, and stigmatization. In some developing countries, HIV was associated with immorality, witchcraft, or demons. Hence, a victim of HIV is treated with stigmatization, or even abandoned. Some societies believe HIV can be spread through simple actions like greetings, or touching (Gulalia, 2008). This make victims of HIV to be alienated, even by family members. This makes it hard to seek heath attention, or any other care. Employers may also discriminate HIV victims, fearing the cost of maintaining them with their health program. They view them as liability, and an expense to the company. These social stigmatization and discrimination makes it hard for victims to seek health services, testing, education, and treatment.
Due to lack of employment opportunities, people living with HIV have financial challenges. They are unable to support their basic needs, and medical needs. Hence, they end up getting sick and getting weak. This is when they are attacked by opportunistic diseases, and they die. People living with HIV can life a healthy and long life, if they get a healthy diet, and take medication (Gulalia, 2008). However, this is not possible to some victims, considering they are poor. This challenge can be solved if there are strong economic programmers by the government to help HIV victims. Poor health centers and poor equipments can also hinder testing, and treatment of HIV. Poor infrastructures and shortage of health workers may be some of the economic obstacles in solving HIV epidemic. Political status within a country may also play a part in discriminating HIV victims. There are some laws that prohibit the promotion of condoms. Use of condoms is one way of preventing HIV spread. Once education on use of condom is prohibited, it becomes hard to stop further spread (Gulalia, 2008).
My community program on HIV and AIDS prevention will be committed in solving social political and economic barriers to successful HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and care. This will be possible through working with community members, the government, and health centers. The program will work to provide HIV victims with equal opportunity, and treatment. This way, the program will work to reach HIV victims within the community, without discriminating on gender or age (Johanson, 2008).
HIV is passed from person to person, and if one is not infected, he is affected. This makes the issue of HIV more than personal, to being a community burden. Hence, coming up with this program will not only benefit the victims, but it will also benefit the whole community. More specific, this community program will try to address issues of children living with HIV, sex workers, homosexuals, and drug users. These are the most vulnerable members of the community to HIV. There are more than 34 million people living with HIV/AIDS currently. Since HIV/AIDS was discovered, more than 25 million people have died. Out of those affected, most 97 % come from low or middle income society (WHO, 2013). According to World Health Organization (WHO), most of those living with the virus have little or no access to health care. This means that help is needed urgently, to those living with HIV, since the virus is still spreading.
My program will provide HIV/AIDS testing centers, which will be available to everyone. These testing centers will include mobile ones, to help people from rural areas. The program will fight for subsidized medical care for HIV victims. We will advocate for the use of condom, and be involved in educating people how to use a condom. This education will target the sex workers, homosexuals, and teenagers.
References
Gulalia, A. (2008). Social work practice: with mobile population vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. New Delhi: Mohit Publications.
Johanson, P. (2008). HIV AIDS. United States: ReadHowYouWant.com.
Tielman, R., Carballo, M., & Hendriks, A. (1991). Bisexuality & HIV/AIDS: a global perspective. Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Books.
WHO, (2013). Facts on HIV/AIDS. WHO. Retrieved February 3, 2014, from http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/hiv/en/
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