4: Working towards Gender Equality to Eradicate HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia

Since its clinical identification in 1981, the human immune deficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic has killed 35 million people (UNAIDS, 2017) worldwide and has been a burden on millions of others through its multifaceted negative impact on development. It destroys productive capacity by killing the most economically active population and by decreasing life expectancy, and consumes vast resources to meet the needs of those infected with HIV. UNAIDS (2017) estimated that for the AIDS response, low- and middle-income countries will require USD 26.2 billion in 2020. By demanding so much financial and human resources, the infection erodes the capacity of other social sectors to undertake their primary tasks and undermines political and economic stability.