iHt: C//
-6m I i
Specter of AIDS Sliii ts 1 o
Developing Nations
National Geographic
For AP Newsfeatures
The Ugandan woman, full of
dreams of a family, farm and home
of her own, once said, ''But I feel I
am haunted by ghosts that will not
leave me. " She was 22, pregnant
with her first child, and she had
■MUS. She and her baby are buried
in the African fields behind her
parents' home.
'' young Thai prostitute, fresh
In ■ Bangkok brothels, returns
home to her village in the north
wnh badly needed cash for her
family, but with a grim bonus this
time: the AIDS virus.
A newborn boy in Bucharest,
skeletal and abandoned, is
transfused with AIDS-
contaminated blood. Most of
Romania’s known AIDS victims
are infants and children.
As of mid-1990, more than
.’.66,(XX) cases of acquired immune
deficiency syndrome have been
reported to the World Health
Organization from 150 countries.
But WHO experts estimate AIDS
may afflict 700,000 people. The
disease is often neither reliably
reported nor recognized.
The global balance of human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infections, which cause AIDS, is
rapidly shifting from industrialized
nations to developing counmies,
says Michael H, Merson, director
of WHO’s global AIDS program.
Two-thirds of the estimated 8
million to 10 million HIV-infected
people in the world now live in
developing countries. Five years
ago about half did. By the end of
thi.s decade, about 80 percent will,
Merson says.
AIDS has become a primarily
heterosexual disease. At least 60
percent of the world’s HIV
infections result from heterosexual
intercourse.
For many people in poorer
countries, AIDS is a stigma or a
curse — a sickness of shame and
su[x;rstition. Ignorant, confused and
scared, they suppress word of the
vims.
The major reason the disease has
switched to developing nations,
Merson told National Geographic,
is "a rise in the number of HIV
infections in Asia, tlie most heavily
]X)ijnl.'Ued part of the world.
Initially infections were spread in
Asian countries by intravenous
drag users, then by prostitutes." At
least 500,0(X) people are estimated
to have been infected in the past
two years.
Thailand’s permissive and
lucrative sex industry, a nationa
tourist attraction, may make tht
Southeast Asian nation vulnerable
to skyrocketing HIV-infection
rates.
The virus was introduced there
only about three years ago, Merson
says. Today, experts estimate that
as many as half of the prostimies
may be infected in some Thai
cities. Health officials fear the
disease’s spread to the general
population.
HIV infections are now most
acute in sub-Saharan Africa, which
has more than half of the world
total. Unlike the pattern in most
Western counuies, where, infected
men predominate, African men and
women are equally afflicted. WHO
among intravenous drug users."
The United States sfill leads in
reported AIDS cases, nearlv
134,000. ^
Although France, West Germany,
Spain and Italy cite the most cases’
in Europe, the Romanian situation
is shocking, says Dr. William
Griffo of New York Hospiial-
Cornell Medical Center, who
recently did volunteer work there.
Romania’s AIDS babies weren’t
bom infected. They were injected
with the virus through tainted blood
u-ansfusions or unclean needles. In
a small survey of hospitals and
orphanages, Griffo says, 700 to 800
A world with AIDS
Global distribution of HIV infection and AIDS cases, as of May 1, 1990
Continent
HIV (AIDS vims)
infection
AIDS cases
reported*
AIDS cases
estimated
Africa
3,500,000
63,842
375,000
Americas
2,500,000
153,720
250,000
Asia
150,000
644
1,200
Europe
500,000
33,896
45,000
Oceania
30,000
1,976
2,500
Totals
over 6,500,000
254,078
650,000
SOURCE: World Health Organization
estimates one in 40 adults is
infected there.
"Another tragedy of AIDS in
Africa is that about a third of the
babies bom to infected mothers
will be infected," says Dr. Joe H.
Davis of the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control.
AIDS has traveled through
Genual and East Africa along
transportation routes and among
urban prostitutes. A survey in
Kenya found that a majority of
Nairobi’s prostitutes have the virus.
In Uganda, which reports 12,500
AIDS cases, more than any other
African country, AIDS has invaded
every dishict, striking farmers and
townspeople alike. In some places a
funeral for an AIDS victim lakes
place nearly every day. Children
are often cared for by grandparents
because AIDS killed both parents.
The AIDS toll also is heavy in
Zaire, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania,
Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi.
But "our predictions that AIDS
would be a plaguelike disease
devastating some African
populations appear unfounded,
because fertility rates remain so
high," Davis says.
Why have HIV infections slowed
in most developed countries?
Partly, Merson explains, "because
of education within the gay
communitv and a saturation level
KRTN Infographics/RON CODDINGTON
children tested positive.
"1 had never seen such
deprivation and cruelty toward
children, such ignorance and
superstition surrounding AIDS,"
Griffo says.
"Nurses recoiled at me picking up
these babies without gloves and a
mask." The extent of the Romanian
epidemic is unknown. As the
isolated nation opens its doors,
Griffo fears the disease could
accelerate.
"Prostitutes hanging around
hotels haven’t a clue what HIV is
or about appropriate protection."
Tlie prevalence of HIV is not likely
to stabilize globally for severi
decades, Merson warns.
Subscribe To
The Carolina Times
Call Today!!!
682-2913
When You’re Ready To Go
Home...
...We’ll Be Going With You.
.f ■
*
Durham County General Hospital
Now Makes Housecall.s
We know that you want to leave the hospital as soon as possible...
to go home... to your family and your friends. Hospital stays are getting shorter, and we are ready to
help you leave as soon as possible by following you home and
giving you the kind of health care service we have become well known for.
Whether it’s high-tech nursing, physical therapy or one of many other health care services,
We are ready to work with your doctor.
Home Treatment and Life Care,
A Home Health Care Service of
Durham County General Hospital
continuing the tradition of high quality health care
you’ve come to expect.
Call 493-3220 or
N. C. Toll Free 1-800-433-7511
J
MONROVIA, LIBERIA — A Liberian rebel fighter shoots and kills a man found hiding in his h
allegedly with a government uniform and bullets among his possessions. The man was believed te k?®
to a rival tribe. (UPI Photo) “ “"“"I
Help For The Visually Impaired
Is Available From Duke
By Deborah Simpkins
Duke University News Service
Five years ago Helen Quigless of
Tarboro began to lose her vision.
"I was watching television, and I
noticed people’s faces would get
blurred, and I realized I was in big
trouble," she said. "Bit by bit,
seeing would get more difficult."
Although she nearly went blind, in
1988 Quigless regained partial
vision in one eye. Today she is one
of an estimated 1.4 million people
in the United States who have
severe visual impairments, known
as low vision. Ranging from partial
loss of vision — which cannot be
corrected to normal sharpness with
ordinary eyeglasses or contact
lenses to total darkness, low vision
usually results in patients altering
their lives in some way.
Until recently, little was
available for such patients. Nancy
Duncan of Durham is helping
change all that.
In cooperation with Duke
YOU & YOUR
C[f1ILD
by Eileen Adams
The Adoption Question
Q. My husband and I have
been married for four years and
have a 3-year-old son. Our little
boy is wonderful, but we’d always
planned on a bigger family. Now,
however, the doctor has said ■:.>
husband is sterile, so we . in’t
have any more children. As far as
I’m concerned, this doesn’t mean
the end of the world. We could
adopt! My husband seems to
think this will upset our son, but
I’m sure lots of families have both
“natural” and adopted children.
Surely we can work ii out. Am 1
right?
A. You’re ricln that you can
work it out, bat it does require
work. There are many things to
consider, not the least of which is
your son. Many experts agree a
young child can experience feel
ings of inadequacy and low self-
worth when an adopted child is
brought into the home. Also, the
standard feelings of jealousy are
bound to show up. These condi
tions are especially prevalent
when the adopted child is older
than the biologically natural
child. In this instance, the first
child often feels displaced and re
jected, as he, until the point of
adoption, will have been the sole
object of his parent’s affection.
This is not to say adoption is a
bad idea. In fact, it’s a wonderful
way for people to share their lives
and loves. You should just be,
forewarned that your husband is
onto something by recognizing
'the possibility for strife.
If you’re intent on adoption,
the best advice is that you adopt a
child younger than your son. This
way his hierarchy is not upset. Of
course, feelings of sibling jealou
sy are inevitable, but that would
be the case if you and your hus
band brought a baby home from
the hospital, too! Nonetheless,
make an effort to explain to your
son, in very simple terms, how
you want to adopt a baby. Be sure
to stress that he stands only to
gain the love of a new family
member and that he won’t be los
ing your love at all.
Best of luck. Adoptions can be
wonderful experiences. But like
anything else worth having, it will
take some effort on your part.
Also, I suggest you talk with your
husband and family before you
begin. Interesting perspectives
could be surprisingly insightful,
© 1990 Tribune Media Services
University Eye Center and the Kate
B. Reynolds Foundation, Duncan
has compiled a 90-page directory
for the visually impaired, with
assistance from the Kate B.
Reynolds Healthcare Trust.
The directory was edited and is
being distributed by Visual
Impairment Information Inc. of
Durham, a non-profit group, with
assistance from the N.C. Society of
Ophthalmology and the N.C. State
Optometric Society.
Approximately 3,000 directories
will be printed, with Braille and
audio tape copies available soon.
The directories will be distributed
free to the pubjip through county
libraries, ophthalmologists,
optometrists, clinics, state agencies
and Lions Clubs. Individuals who
want their own copies will pay only
mailing costs.
• The directory is divided into 13
categories: adjusting to vision loss;
causes and treatmenis of vision
loss; increasing !■. ,'>me and
lowering expenses: h ■is-" - and life
style; adaptive aids . ,j , nputers;
emotional su, art; reading
methods; recreation and leisure;
early childhood development and
preschools; elementary school, high
school and college; employment;
legal rights; and networking with
local resources. Duncan hopes it
will help people keep their lives as
xrmafas possible.
"There are hundreds of agencies
all over the United States that have
sornething to offer visually
impaired people," Duncan said.
However, she found only one
similar directory, the Massachusetts
Directory for the Disabled, that is
specifically for people with
impaired vision.
Given its broad definition,
impaired vision can be caused by
birth defects, injuries, aging,
cataracts, glaucoma, damage to tlie
optic nerve or deterioration of the
retina. According to the American
Academy of Ophthalmology,
impaired vision is the third greatesi
handicap (after heart disease and
arthritis) among those over age 65.
Quigless, whose vision problems
were caused by an unusual case of
rheumatoid arthritis that repeatedly
attacked her corneas, described the
dark days of losing her vision.
"When the first [cornea] flare-up
occurred, I was in deep trouble, but
at the time I didn’t have any visual
problems," she said. "Bit by bit,
seeing got more difficult. I couldn’t
balance my checkbook. That was a
horrendous thing. I had to trust
people to write my checks. When
you lose your sight, you get very
dependent." Duncan, who has a
master’s degree in psychology and
has been a volunteer counselor at
Duke University Eye Center for
four years, understands the need to
offer support and guidance to those
losing their vision. She is legally
bUnd.
(Legally blind is a term the
government developed to
determine who can use the services
for the blind, Duncan said. People
who have 20/200 vision even with
the best correction are considered
legally blind, as are those who have
no light perception at all.) Duke
became involved in this project as
part of its mission to serve patients.
"Duke provides a low vision
clinic to introduce these patients to
visual aids that may assist them in
daily hfe, said Robert Machemer,
M.D., chairman and Helena
Rubinstein Professor of
ophthalmology, "but we at the eye
center needed to offer more." "We
see so many patients in which the
physician cannot offer vis
improvement. I felt that thi
patients were often left alone»
their impairment and had no k
where to turn. This help
stimulate our search for avails
services for visually handicap;
people. To my surprise, manym
existed than I had thong
However, no single source
inquiries existed. Therefore,
developed the idea to eslablisl
compendium of all services for
visually impaired." .’’This prini
document will be a reseai
directory for people in Noi
Carolina," Duncan said, "but il
will be only the first step, rail
than the final step in our projee
The Visual Impairment Informali
Inc. started a hotline for Noi
Carolina in May (1-800-543-210
The American Council for i
Blind already operates a natioi
hotline two hours each day. Dune
said, but the information is i
general.
"People’s questions are spedft
she said, adding that many calls
request volunteer drivers, ai
people with diabetic retinopathy
retinal problem caused by dialtK
often need someone to help me
monitor their insuUn dosage.
For more information on (
hotline or the directory, call the e;
center’s Planning and Developme
Office at (919) 684-3182.
Pharmacy &
Your Health
Discount Drugs
206 W. Main SL
>88.1366
FDA Reviews
Generic Medicines
During the past few monllii
generic prescription medidiK
have been in the news. Early re
ports indicated that a few generi
medicine manufacturers falsifie
certain data submitted to thi
U.S. Food and Drug Admii
istration (FDA). One mani
facturer used a competitor’s brai
name medicine in testing ralht
than its own generic product.
In August, the governiui
announced, "there is no evidei
that the safety or effectiveness
generic drugs has been comp
mised." More recently the FI
has stepped up its review
generic drug companies. Safi
testing of the 30 most commoi
prescribed generics was beg'
More than 1,000 samples fn
hundreds of manufactures wt
collected for analysis. The FI
announced plans to strengthen I
oversight of generic drug reviei
through a newly established g£
eric drug office. And the go
emment has pledged that it w
move rapidly to have unsafe
ineffective drags removed fm
the market.
The recent difficulties with i
few generic drug manufactutef
does not mean that all generic
are of questionable quality’ h
you have questions about th(
generic medicines you may m
taking, please ask us for advice.