Combating the Stigma of HIV/AIDS

Men who have sex with men, injection drug users and indigenous people have a higher risk.

MORE than 14 million people worldwide could be living with HIV and don’t know it.

“From a policy and resource perspective, we now have to provide the supporting environment and services to ensure that we can plug the gaps that can possibly prevent us from meeting our testing and treatment goals”.

According to the Oregon Health Authority, only 35% of adults have ever been tested.

The day is important because it reminds the public and government that the HIV is still claiming the lives of the people.

A daily pill could be the answer to getting rid of HIV.

Lehigh Valley Health Network is also leading the battle against HIV hoping to help their patients with several HIV medical trials.

The understanding of HIV/AIDS has come a long way from how it was viewed in past decades.

From 2010 to 2015, persons tested for HIV and AIDS in China had increased from 60 million to 140 million. As a result of recent advances in access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-positive people now live longer and healthier lives.

However, it tied with Belize and Suriname as the countries with the lowest number of newly infected people with HIV – 200. Now through our outreach program and at the health department we do our own blood draw test. And grants will be used to support strategies that promote culturally competent testing to underserved and other priority communities.

Twirling, stomping and raising their hands in the air to the tune of Annie Lennox’s Sisters Doin’ It For Themselves, around 30 members of Grannies for Africa did their part in Capri Centre Mall to remind this community that HIV and AIDS are far from cured both overseas and locally. Also, keeping yourself up to date with the new developments in HIV, including research work, can be helpful.

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