AIDS

In The Novel
In The Sweet Hereafter, Zoe claims to be HIV positive and wont be living
much longer.
Its unknown if she really is infected with the disease or if its an excuse to
get money.
 Discovery
Its guessed that HIV was transferred to humans in Africa between 1884-
1924. Then probably reached Haiti by the 60s and then America in the 70s.
Cases of AIDS were found in gay men in New York and California in 1981.
Next cases were of injecting drug users.
 The Spread
In the 80s, scientists and medical professionals didnt have enough
information on the virus to warn the public about it.
People were having unprotected sexual intercourses and then having children
who will have the virus as well.
What is it?
 Prevention
Have safe sex (use a condom).
Avoid the abuse of drugs (no injections).
 How Did it Blow Up?
HIV/AIDS has been considered a pandemic for over 30 years. This is
because it has a big prevalence in all regions in the world.
The disease derived from Africa and 96 percent of the worlds HIV positive
population live in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. 70 percent of AIDS deaths were
also from there.
Some countries have at least 10% of their population living with the virus.
 Africa and AIDS/HIV
Sub-Saharan Africa has been hit the hardest with the disease. Reasons for
this include
High rates of poverty
Gender inequality
Rapid urbanization
 Then and Now
In 1981, when the infection was just learnt about, no one was really
knowledgeable about it. They thought it only targeted a certain type of
people. The HIV virus spread because no one knew how it did.
Today there are blood tests that can see if youre infected. There are
educational programs on the disease and more people are aware of it.
Since 1981 over 30 million people died from the disease.
 Authors Choice
In the novel The Sweet Hereafter, Mitchel Stephens is an observing
character. Though a lawyer and has his agenda when in Sam Dent, he still has
his past and family that isnt is bright.
I think the author chose Stephens daughter Zoe to be infected with HIV to
show us that the lawyer isnt only an angry man, but a caring and hurt father.
 Works Consulted
AIDS Timeline. AVERT. AVERT. Web. 3 Oct 2013.
<http://www.avert.org/aids-timeline.htm>
What is AIDS/HIV? AIDS*gov. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. 6
June 2012. Web. 3 Oct 2013. <http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/what-
is-hiv-aids/>
HIV/AIDS. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 16 Sept 2013. Web. 4 Oct 2013.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AIDS#Management>
Statistics: Worldwide. amFAR. amFAR. Nov 2012. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.
<http://www.amfar.org/about-hiv-and-aids/facts-and-stats/statistics--
worldwide/>