Moral responsibility in preventing the global AIDS epidemic

¶ … moral responsibility of AIDS. There are three references used for this paper.

AIDS continues to be a growing epidemic throughout the world today, with irresponsibility playing a key role. It is important to look at the moral considerations that are raised by this issue.

Growth

Since 1981, the number of reported AIDS cases has grown to epidemic proportions. Worldwide, by the end of 2003, "there were 40 million adults and children living with HIV / AIDS, with 3 million of these individuals being infected with HIV / AIDS in 2003 alone (http://www.avert.org/worldstats.htm)."

Moral Responsibility

The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that moral behavior is the responsibility of both sexes in the prevention of the spread of AIDS. Both men and women equally "share the right to refuse sex and assume responsibility for ensuring safe sex. In many societies, however, men have much more control than women over when, with whom and how they have sex, and therefore men need to assume greater responsibility for their actions (http://w3.whosea.org/hivaids/aidsfaq.htm)."

Many organizations feel it is the moral responsibility of developed country's governments to assist in AIDS prevention in developing countries. WHO stresses that individuals, both HIV positive and negative, "share responsibility for avoiding HIV infection / re-infection. However, many people, including women, children and teenagers, cannot negotiate safe sex because of low status in society or lack of personal power. Therefore men, whether knowingly infected or unaware of their HIV status, have a special responsibility of not putting others at risk (http://w3.whosea.org/hivaids/aidsfaq.htm)."

Important Role

Men and women need to be morally responsible for their actions today. The days of meaningless sex and one night stands are gone, and society as a whole needs to reevaluate its moral principles in order to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

It is the moral obligation for anyone infected with AIDS to inform any potential sexual partners of this fact. It is also important for all persons to practice safe sex, since the symptoms of the disease may not appear for a time.

Developed countries such as the United States have a moral responsibility to educate undeveloped countries about the disease, how it is spread and prevention methods which can be utilized.

Conclusion

It is the moral responsibility of everyone today to prevent the spread of AIDS. Not only individuals, but countries as well, need to take an active role in increasing awareness of the transmission and treatment of this deadly disease.