HIV/AIDS affects over 35 million people across the globe.
The fight against AIDS has been going on for over 30 years, and we are now the
closest we have ever been to getting this epidemic under control. More and more
people are becoming aware and getting treatment for this disease. Ten years
ago, only 300,000 people received treatment where 9.7 million people are
receiving treatment today. For the first time ever, there are more people
getting treatment than there are new infections, meaning we’ve reached the
“tipping point” of this disease. We have caught up with AIDS and are beginning
to see a downward curve. Sixty nine percent of people with HIV live in
sub-Saharan Africa, and 16 of these countries are leading the global trend of
decreasing numbers of people infected, having surpassed this “tipping point”
and getting ahead of the curve. This is huge in relation to the fact that there
is now hope for people with HIV to live a long, healthy life. In previous
years, this disease was a death sentence.
Globally, the fight against HIV/AIDS is going strong and
here in the United States, we are doing what we can to decrease number of
infections as well. Today, February 7, 2014, is National Black HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day. Of the 50,000 Americans who are living with HIV, 69% of them are
African Americans. Cities around the country are offering free testing for HIV
as well as raising awareness in their communities to prevent the spread of this
disease. Another way that spreading of HIV can be prevented is through an antiretroviral
treatment called PrEP. This is given to people who are not infected and can
reduce the risk of getting HIV by 90%.
We are finally beginning to win this fight against HIV/AIDS.
Through prevention and treatment globally and locally, soon we will have this
disease under control and people will no longer have to live in fear of this
epidemic.
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