Dr. Daya Hewapathirane

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), is one of the world’s most serious health and development challenges. Globally, approximately 75 million people have become infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic in 1981. Today, there are about 40 million people living with HIV, and tens of millions of people have died of AIDS-related causes. HIV remains a leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of death globally among women of reproductive age.

Sub-Saharan Africa (Eastern Southern, Western and Central African countries), is the hardest-hit region, with more than two-thirds of all people living with HIV globally. This is basically is a collection of Muslim countries. Here, many people living with HIV or at risk for HIV infection do not have access to prevention, treatment, and care, and there is still no cure. HIV primarily affects those in their most productive years, and it not only affects the health of individuals, but also impacts households, communities, and the development and economic growth of nations. Many of the countries hardest hit by HIV also face serious challenges due to other infectious diseases, food insecurity, and additional global health and development problems.

Eastern and Southern Africa –   20.6 million (55% of the global total)

                                                               (newly infected total – 800,000

Western and Central Africa –      5 million (13% of total global)

                                                                (newly infected total- 280,000)

The Middle East and North Africa – 240,000                                                                       (newly infected – 20,000)

(Source: UNAIDS. AIDS info website, 2019

Two-thirds of children living with HIV (65%) are found in the Eastern and Southern African Region. The Middle East and North Africa region are one of the regions in the world where the number of AIDS-related deaths is increasing. Muslim World’s Heartless Indifference and Criminal Neglect of the plight of millions of Innocent Muslims in Africa dying of HIV-Aids. HIV-AIDS is killing people in the millions and is the greatest tragedy in the world today, especially in Africa. Millions are dying and tens of millions will die in the near future, the majority of who are Muslims. A continent is being destroyed, and where is the compassion and generosity of the rich and powerful international community who can help their fellow-being?  The willful inattention of the rich international community, by the oil-rich Muslim world to what is happening to their own Muslim brothers and sisters, is amazing if not disgusting. This is heartless indifference and criminal neglect for the past decade during which time countless people have gone to their graves, people who were perhaps praying five times to Allah for a good and secure life on earth.

It is noteworthy that in Sri Lanka where Buddhists predominate (70% of the 20 million population), the number infected by HIV-AIDS is less than 0.1%, and the majority infected are non-Buddhists from Colombo.

Dr. Daya Hewapathirane