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YUNMUN Position Paper: Topic 1

Committee:World Health Organization (WHO)

Country:Republic of Zimbabwe

Delegate: Caitlyn FranksHigh School: Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community High School

Topic: HIV/AIDS

Ever since its downfall which began in the 1990s, the Republic of Zimbabwe has

suffered from countless issues nationally and internationally. After their current President

Robert Mugabe was elected in 1990, the state of affairs for the newly independent

country began to disintegrate at a rapid rate. By 2000, not only did President Mugabe

redistribute farmland to his associates- which caused inflation and hunger to rise- but

25% of Zimbabwes population was living with HIV/AIDS. According to the Joint

United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), recent statistics show that inZimbabwe, approximately 16 million adults over the age of 15 are living with HIV/

AIDS.

While both treatment and prevention are essential in preventing HIV/AIDS, the

Republic of Zimbabwe urges that treatment precedes protection against the fatal disease.

HIV/AIDS treatment should be considered as WHOs main focus; Due to Zimbabwes

inadequate education concerning the dangers of unprotected sex, treatment mustbe

administered to the people infected with HIV/AIDS. Then, once those persons have been

treated we must take preventative measures against HIV/AIDS. These measures would

include the distribution of protection (i.e. condoms), prevent prostitution, and most

importantly, education of the countrys youth about the fatal consequences of unprotected

sex and HIV/AIDS. While the Zimbabwean government point-blank refuses to accept

medical assistance from the international community, Zimbabwes people and local

officials would like to accommodate proper medical care for its citizens, including

reliable medical facilities. Another top priority to the parents of young children in

Zimbabwe is the importance of education. By educating the Zimbabwean youth about the

importance of protection and taking precautions, the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic

can be halted.

Chinas support has helped through a few temporary issues concerning medical

care, and Iran has been a source of support for the Zimbabwean government in

international fora, as well as signing trade agreements between the two countries for

medical equipment.

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http://www.unaids.org/en/dataanalysis/knowyourresponse/countryprogressreports/2012countries/ce_ZW_Narrative_Report.pdfhttp://www.unaids.org/en/dataanalysis/knowyourresponse/countryprogressreports/2012countries/ce_ZW_Narrative_Report.pdfhttp://www.unaids.org/en/dataanalysis/knowyourresponse/countryprogressreports/2012countries/ce_ZW_Narrative_Report.pdfhttp://www.unaids.org/en/dataanalysis/knowyourresponse/countryprogressreports/2012countries/ce_ZW_Narrative_Report.pdfhttp://apps.who.int/globalatlas/predefinedReports/EFS2008/full/EFS2008_ZW.pdfhttp://apps.who.int/globalatlas/predefinedReports/EFS2008/full/EFS2008_ZW.pdfhttp://hiv-stats.realclearworld.com/l/46/Zimbabwehttp://hiv-stats.realclearworld.com/l/46/Zimbabwehttp://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/health/120709/zimbabwe-surges-ahead-in-HIV-AIDS-fighthttp://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/health/120709/zimbabwe-surges-ahead-in-HIV-AIDS-fighthttp://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/health/120709/zimbabwe-surges-ahead-in-HIV-AIDS-fighthttp://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/health/120709/zimbabwe-surges-ahead-in-HIV-AIDS-fighthttp://www.avert.org/aids-zimbabwe.htmhttp://www.avert.org/aids-zimbabwe.htm