Let me explain why. Those who suffer the consequences first are families. There is, of course, the emotional impact of seeing a loved one die. At the same time families must cope with significant economic loss. Income loss like this leads to painful choices.
Education can become a luxury.
One study, in Cote d'Ivoire, showed that in families where someone had died of AIDS school expenditures went down by half. That means that one-half of the children left behind when someone dies of AIDS cannot realize their full potential. These cruel effects on families are also cruel to countries' economies. As income declines so does purchasing power. Unschooled children mean growing social problems and a loss of competitiveness in a global economy increasingly dependent on knowledge.