The AIDS virus has been a growing problem throughout the world, particularly in Zimbabwe, Africa. The number affected by the disease is over whelming. The virus is taking seven hundred lives per week (cnn.com 1). It is estimated that the virus has infected nearly two million of its twelve million population. In Zimbabwe nearly one in every four people have AIDS (dem.) The virus is causing zero or negative population growth in the country (Article 2). As a result the population growth will range from -0.1% to 0.3%. The growth rates would have been an estimated 1.1% to 2.3% in the absence of the epidemic (Art. 2). The life expectancy in Zimbabwe has dropped from 39 instead of 78 (art 2).
            
             AIDS has also caused many economic effects as well. Several companies have reported that the virus has cost them one-fifth of their company earnings (Dem. 5). Because the disease affects many people in their most productive age it has caused a reduction in the size and experience of the labor force, increased health care, raised the cost of labor, and reduced savings and investments. In businesses there is a raise in labor costs due to the high morbidity, increased absenteeism, additional training cost and decreased productivity (Gaz 1). Many companies are having to hire and train two and even three people to do one mans job because it is likely that AIDS will fall on some (Cnn 4). As the skilled die they must be replaced. Skilled workers are becoming scarce so wages will invariably increase (Gaz 2). Many workers need time off to care for their sick relatives and attend funerals (gaz 2).
            
             AIDS is also having a great economic impact on the households as well. Families have to pay for medical expenses, which is rapidly decreasing their savings. About one-third of their yearly income is spent on a funeral (Dem. 6). The number of orphans is also increasing significantly as one or both parents become ill or die (All Af. ...