ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, economic development, food production, governance and security. It suggests the crisis is driving the HIV epidemic and AIDS is magnifying the crisis in the region. Responding to AIDS and the many crises is crucial and must occur concurrently. AIDS is killing people at an age and in numbers that are without precedent. AIDS causes people to be less productive. World Bank economist Rene Bonnel estimates AIDS has reduced Africa's economic growth by 0.8 percent in the 1990s. HIV/AIDS and malaria combined resulted in a 1.2 percentage point decrease in per capita growth between 1990 and 1995. There is ample evidence to show that crises help drive the HIV epidemic. HIV/AIDS should be placed on all the agendas; indeed there are a number of crucial players in the field who would be receptive to having this put on their agenda.
