Economic policies exacerbate AIDS
The role of the World Bank and the IMF in the spread of AIDS
Ill-conceived policies of the World Bank and the IMF have had devastating consequences for the people of Africa.
In the 1980’s, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) imposed structural adjustment policies on African countries as a condition for receiving loans. These policies have had far-reaching and catastrophic consequences for these countries in terms of the spread of AIDS.
The World Bank and the IMF placed the demands of markets, trade, and the economy above the needs of the people and the sovereignty of nations under the theory that if the economy is taken care of, then other aspects of a nation will improve as well. However, it is the interests of the developed nations and of the multinational corporations which have been protected and not those of the developing countries.
In particular, recipients of loans were forced into privatizing government services and corporations, and eliminating subsidies to individuals on goods such as food and medicine. As a result, the access to health care services is restricted for most people. What was once government provided, now must be paid for by the individual. This has resulted in a huge increase in the price of food, which means that many Africans have fewer resources to commit to other necessities, including health care. With the burgeoning problem of AIDS, few people can afford the necessary treatment or are getting access to preventive measures.
As well, with a crippling debt, a huge portion of many African countries’ budget is committed to servicing the debt. This has resulted in the slashing of health care budgets as governments no longer have the funds to provide AIDS treatment and prevention resources. With a lack of access to treatment, the impact of AIDS is even more devastating. HIV positive sufferers can live a longer, productive life with treatment which means that a country will not lose a large portion of its workforce and children are not left as orphans. However, without this treatment, a large portion of working age people are lost, children are left without parents, and the economy suffers.
The policies of the IMF and the World Bank have not only contributed to the spread of AIDS, but also to its devastating impact. Policies that impact human rights, health, and education which are meant to bolster an economy can have exactly the opposite effect when not well-conceived.
