Global warming and AIDS

James Hall in the Swazi Observer (Swaziland): On this week that sees the annual observation of World AIDS Day, health workers, policy makers and AIDS groups are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their approach to the disease. They are seeing AIDS from a “holistic” point of view – as a problem interlinked with such issues as poverty, food and water security, general health care, gender and (today’s topic) global warming. Gone are the days when AIDS was addressed as a medical problem to be handled in isolation by the health sector. Climate change is the latest wrinkle to complicate the battle to contain and defeat AIDS.

There is no evidence that the recent heavy rains were a direct result of climate change or that they were merely more of the same heavy November storms that have struck Swaziland and have been written about since the 19th century. However, some observers say the persistent rains would normally be seen in March, and this might be a sign of the climate changing here. More study has to be done.
What is undeniable is that the reality of climate change seems to have been accepted by the world’s scientists, leaders and publics, which is what the upcoming Copenhagen conference is all about. If the recent rains are anything to go by, we can expect more unusual weather, which will impact on people living with HIV and AIDS.

….According to a report just released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the success in defeating AIDS will rely on not only finding ways to destroy the virus itself but also to deal with climate change. The report identifies such climate change complications like food and water shortages, growth in poverty and an increase in natural disasters.

The virus that causes AIDS budding out of a human cell