Theme sets goal to eliminate disease
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the first World AIDS Day, dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV/ AIDS.
A Bethesda laboratory in 1983 was the first to make the link connecting the human immunodeficiency virus as the cause of acquired human immune deficiency syndrome, a disease which the CDC reports has since killed an estimated 36 million people worldwide. More than 35 million people globally are infected and living with HIV.
The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Shared Responsibility: Strengthening Results for an AIDS-Free Generation,” which ties into Getting to Zero, a United Nations global campaign with the end goal of eliminating AIDS globally.
Sylvia McIntyre is director of prevention at the Philadelphia Center, a nonprofit organization that provides support services to individuals infected with HIV/AIDS and that educates the public on how HIV is spread and how to prevent infection. McIntyre said, “Some are infected, but everyone is affected by HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day was observed for the first time Dec. 1, 1988, after a summit of health ministers from around the world called for a spirit of social tolerance and a greater exchange of information on HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day, observed annually on Dec. 1, serves to strengthen the global effort to face the challenges of the AIDS pandemic, which continues to spread throughout every region of the world. This organized effort is designed to encourage public support for programs that prevent the spread of HIV infection and to provide education and awareness of issues surrounding HIV/AIDS.”
McIntyre said, “World AIDS Day, a day of remembrances for our fallen soldiers who have run the race and fought the good fight of combating this virus, this disease. I have known a few of those fighters personally. On Dec. 1, we will remember those persons and acknowledge those who are still in the fight. This virus is 100 percent preventable through awareness and education. We have come a long way, and we’ve got a long way to go, but with the help of the media, educators, observance days, advocates, newspapers, television, et cetera, I know we will end this epidemic and put a stop to this plight.”
Brett Malone, executive director of the Philadelphia Center, said, “While it’s difficult to judge whether transmission rates are increasing or decreasing because all we can base it on is how many people test positive over the course of the year, those numbers have been going up in the past few years and there are currently over 1,600 people who are currently living with HIV or AIDS in Northwest Louisiana. The best estimate is that there are actually 25- 40 percent more people infected who don’t know it. There are probably over 200 people in our area currently living with HIV/AIDS.
“Fortunately with early detection and early treatment, the life expectancy of someone diagnosed with HIV is significantly better than what it was only 10 or 15 years ago; however for men especially, the life expectancy of someone who is HIV positive is roughly 10 years less than someone who is not HIV positive, and that’s only if the person is tested and if found positive gets into treatment relatively quickly. Unfortunately, too often people neglect themselves, don’t get tested and don’t know that they are infected with HIV until they are already symptomatic or have developed other AIDS-related illnesses. We still get a lot of referrals from emergency rooms or hospitals for people who have never got tested for HIV until they had already become sick or developed AIDS.”
Malone said, “I think the most important thing for people to remember is that HIV is 100 percent preventable, and that it doesn’t have to be a death sentence if a person gets into care once diagnosed. I would recommend that people go to our 1804 Centenary Blvd. office for free HIV testing as well as more information about HIV and access to male and female condoms as well as other ways to help them stay safe.”
