Let us talk openly about AIDS
Tuesday November 22, 2022
World AIDS day is a day to
remember the millions of people who have been affected by HIV and to promote awareness about the disease.
But it’s also a day to remember that we should not be afraid of those who
are living with HIV. They are people just like us and they deserve respect.
You are not alone. There are many people who hate the fact that the AIDs virus has ravaged
the world and caused so much pain, sadness, and even death to so many people.
Some of you may feel this way because of personal experience with someone you care about
being diagnosed with HIV. Others may have heard about it from a friend or relative who’s been affected by
it.
If there is anything we can do to help our community, better understand the disease! We need
to work together to end stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS by raising awareness of the
challenges they face day in and day out. In doing so, we can make their lives better and safer every single
day!
The world has come a long way in terms of understanding and treating HIV/AIDS. In the early
days of this disease, there was hardly any research being done on it, and treatment options were
limited.
But as more people began to get infected with HIV/AIDS, scientists realized that they needed
to find better ways to prevent new infections and treat those living with the disease.
Today we have many medications available for people who want treatment options but still need
access to affordable healthcare services.
Until the 1980s, the discussion about AIDS, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, was
largely limited to the medical community.
Within a few years of its discovery, the disease had spread rapidly,
claiming millions of lives. It still continues to affect millions of people globally.
The virus that causes this disease is called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). HIV attacks
the immune system by destroying white blood cells so they cannot fight off infections or diseases like
cancer.
When these infected cells die off, your body loses its ability to fight
off infections and other viruses because there are less white blood
cells around to do their job! This makes you more vulnerable to other diseases because your body can’t defend itself
against them effectively anymore either!
In addition to becoming sicker over time due to HIV infection itself which causes severe weight
loss, people with HIV may also develop certain opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) or
tuberculosis (TB).
These types of infections often appear suddenly without any warning signs beforehand.
However, some people may experience pre-existing symptoms before they become seriously ill. Make them seek medical
attention sooner rather than later.
India alone is home to the world’s third-largest HIV epidemic. Every year
21 lakh people get infected with HIV and nearly 3 lakh people die due to AIDS-related illnesses.
In this context, it is important to know that talking about AIDS does not mean talking about
homosexuality or promiscuity. It can be any kind of sexual activity that involves blood and risks getting
infected.
It’s also possible that there are many more cases of unprotected sex than we think, because
most men and women cannot afford condoms, they resort to unprotected sex instead of using a condom every time they
have sex.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 1 in 5 new cases of AIDS occur
among men who have sex with men (MSM).
In recent years, social media and awareness campaigns are slowly breaking down the stigma
against people living with HIV/AIDS. As a society we have come a long way but more needs to be done to address
this problem.
In spite of the progress we have made, HIV/AIDS remains a global problem. There are still
millions of people living with HIV and many more who contract it every year. The stigma associated with this disease
means that many do not get tested or treated until they have developed severe symptoms, and then only if they have
access to health care in their home countries.
Prevention efforts like safe sex education (SSE), condom distribution programs, needle
exchange programs, treatment for those who do test positive, and research into new treatments could lead us closer
to an AIDS-free world where there are no more cases left untreated at all levels, that is national level (country)
or local level (community). Research is needed to find better ways to prevent new infections, treat those living with HIV,
and ultimately create a cure.
It’s important to
note that a cure for AIDS is still many years away. In fact, the only cure for HIV/AIDS currently available is a
combination of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and supportive care. This means that people living with HIV are
treated with these medications, which keep the virus away
from multiplying in their bodies so it can’t harm their
organs or cause other health problems.
Conclusion
It is clear that the world needs to do more to address AIDS. But this can only be achieved if
we take a more holistic approach and focus on prevention, treatment, and research. The key thing we need to remember
is that HIV/AIDS isn’t just a medical problem. It’s also a social concern that requires us all to work together as
one community in order for us all to survive together with dignity!
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References:
It’s World AIDS Day—Let’s Talk About PrEP! | ZoomCare Blog. (2020, November
11). https://www.zoomcare.com/blog/its-world-aids-day-lets-talk-about-prep
Mail, M. (2019, December 10). Talk openly on sex education to eradicate AIDS, advises
MAF. Malay Mail. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/12/10/talk-openly-on-sex-education-to-eradicate-aids-advises-maf/1817993
teenhealthmatters. (2017, December 1). Let’s Talk about HIV and AIDS. TeenHealth
Matters. https://teenhealthmatters.org/lets-talk-hiv-aids/