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Most everyone has been impacted by HIV and AIDS since it
made its debut in the US in the early 1980s. From the early
days when little was known about the disease except that most
people who were infected, died. With the tremendous gains
in research and treatment, as well as the massive public health
educational effort, HIV is not the automatic death sentence
it once was.
Despite these gains, in 2006, 56,300 people in the US were
infected with the HIV; worldwide, there seems to be no end
to its reach. This significant chronic illness remains lethal
for many people. Even those who are responding well to antiretroviral
medications, there are significant challenges in dealing with
this chronic illness.
More than 25 years after the first case of HIV/AIDS was reported
we are still struggling with the disease. There is still no
cure, and new cases are being reported daily. It would appear
that the gravity of the situation will be causing changes
in the way we have viewed the disease. No longer an affliction
of gay men and addicts, HIV has touched each of us in some
way. World leaders are beginning to respond, and the realization
is apparent that without change generations of people will
be lost.
Advancements in ART include combination pills to decrease
pill burden while maintaining efficacy, the development of
new drugs and new classes of drugs, and continued efforts
toward vaccine development. Programs are in development to
promote earlier identification of HIV/AIDS by destigmatizing
the testing process and making HIV testing a routine part
of healthcare. Research continues to help broaden our understanding
of HIV and the way it impacts the human body.
Each of us can play a role in the fight against HIV/AIDS:
- Take the time to do a complete sexual history to identify
risk factors
- Treat people with HIV/AIDS with respect
- Increase HIV/AIDS awareness at work and in the community
- Volunteer at a local HIV community based organization
- Participate in HIV fund raising activities
- Keep up to date on HIV knowledge
- Advocate for programs to benefit people living with HIV/AIDS
It will make a difference.
Continue on to Appendix A: Overview of Services Available Through Kentucky's Ryan White and State-Funded Services Programs, September, 2012
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