Topic: HIV/AIDS
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Hannah Johnson
School: Vicksburg High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Bolivia position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, has been a problem in the Plurinational state of Bolivia since the first case of it was diagnosed in 1985. In May of 2007, since the epidemic had been brought to light, the Government of Bolivia addressed a total of 2,464 cases of HIV. Since then the epidemic has been widely spreading, with large concentrations of men having sex with men (MSM) with an HIV prevalence of 25.4% and sex workers, with an HIV prevalence of 4.3%. The HIV National Strategic Plan, started from 2013 up until this present day, is the response for the country of Bolivia to prevent or reduce new HIV infections. The country of Bolivia makes it their most important priority to provide health treatments for those affected by HIV/AIDS. Another dramatic health crisis is AIDS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease Syndrome, which has been increasing at a fast pace for the country of Bolivia. In the Latin American Region, an estimated 1,900,000 people were living with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2004. UNAIDS/WHO had estimated an overview five times higher for Bolivia. This is unfortunately many times lower than the neighboring countries; Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru. Those following countries deal with even more dramatic numbers of people dealing with the crisis that is HIV/AIDS. A possible explanation of the low rates of HIV can possibly be explained by under reporting, along with socioeconomic and cultural factors. For the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the Government of Bolivia has a political commitment to the standing of it. Bolivia’s health system only reaches 70% of the population, which in turn takes a lot of Bolivia’s funding. The dedication to confronting this epidemic from Bolivia’s point of view is to have continuous improvement and constant responsive measures.
