World AIDS Day 2021

Annually on December 1st, thousands and thousands of individuals observe World AIDS Day. A day to honor these misplaced to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, it’s additionally an opportunity to recollect the historical past of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS in addition to mirror on the significance of HIV/AIDS consciousness and therapy wanting ahead.

In honor of World AIDS Day, let’s have a look collectively at some essential details about HIV/AIDS!

The Information

HIV damages the immune system’s skill to battle illness. There are many misconceptions about how HIV is contracted, so let me clear up any confusion. It’s unfold by means of bodily fluids like semen, precum, rectal and vaginal fluids, breast milk and blood. It isn’t unfold by means of saliva or urine. There are three stages of HIV: Stage 1 (acute HIV an infection), Stage 2 (Persistent HIV An infection) and Stage 3 (AIDS). Nevertheless, nowadays many people who find themselves HIV constructive by no means advance to Stage 3 (extra on that under).

A Transient Historical past

When first found, little was identified about HIV/AIDS. In the course of the Eighties, the ignorance about HIV/AIDS on the time would encourage a lot of the stigma that also exists. Some folks use AIDS to defend discrimination towards queer folks, and misinformation about HIV/AIDS stays an enormous subject.

HIV and AIDS Right this moment

Right this moment, an estimated 37.7 million people worldwide live with HIV. Fortunately, nice progress has been made to enhance therapy for people who find themselves HIV-positive and to assist forestall HIV for many who are most in danger. In recent times, new preventative remedies like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) decrease folks’s probabilities of contracting HIV earlier than or after an publicity and drugs like antiretroviral remedy (ART) reduces the danger that HIV poses to sufferers’ well being.

In 2017, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention declared that when remedies cut back the quantity of virus in an HIV-positive particular person’s blood to the place it’s undetectable throughout a normal blood check, that particular person is unable to transmit HIV to a accomplice throughout intercourse. This discovery, typically known as U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) was an incredible step ahead for TasP (Remedy as Prevention), which goals to restrict the transmission of HIV/AIDS by treating contaminated people.

Nonetheless Work to Be Achieved

Impressed by activist teams that originated through the preliminary AIDS disaster—just like the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Energy (ACT UP)—trendy advocates just like the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) goal to extend consciousness and cut back stigma with regards to HIV/AIDS.

Right this moment, I encourage you to mirror on the historical past behind HIV/AIDS and the way we will help form a future rid of them. In the event you get the possibility, share correct details about HIV/AIDS and assist battle stigma. Examine HIV/AIDS activism and inform your family and friends what you’ve realized. Bear in mind to observe safer intercourse by utilizing condoms and dental dams, and encourage others to observe safer intercourse, too. And, in case you are sexually lively, ensure you’re getting examined usually!

Collectively, we will proceed to make nice strides within the battle towards HIV/AIDS!

In search of a spot to get examined for HIV? Take a look at our clinic finder!