December 3, 2008

Vanquishing AIDS: Notes on Ending the Epidemic in America

In summary, destigmatizing HIV-positive people is crucial to the tasks of reducing the number of new people becoming HIV positive as well as properly diagnosing and more effectively treating HIV-positive people. Meeting this challenge will help both HIV-positive people and HIV-negative people get better access to treatment and prevention.

Imagine a public health leadership that undertook to truly educate the public about HIV-positive people, including the HIV-positive members of the public. Imagine the benefit for HIV-positive people and the public at large if HIV were destigmatized. Imagine the consequences for the developing world if we could export a true public health understanding about HIV to developing countries along with lifesaving medications! 

Let’s develop a public health campaign involving a joint effort of the medical profession, public health officials, government, industry, media, foundations, clergy and, most of all, the community of HIV-positive people to destigmatize HIV in our society and empower HIV-positive people once and for all.

The opinions expressed in this essay are those of Dr. Paul Bellman and do not necessarily reflect the views of POZ and Smart + Strong.

 

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Previous Comments:

santiago, NY, 2009-01-21 15:09:25
dr bellman's courage and dedication to command change in health care for hiv for so many years is admirable. his dream of compassion to a social acceptance of hiv+ persons sheds light on such a dark dilemma. thank you for educating us more on the subject..

Lora T, Brooklyn, NY, 2009-01-06 20:00:41
Is America able to shead it's neo-colonial, puritanical view of love, sex and hiv* so we can erraticate this plague? We made Obama president....maybe ther is a glimmer of hope for the courageous ones! Thank you Dr. B! (*I refuse to capitalize the disease and made it stand out....)

Rob C, Brooklyn, NY, 2009-01-06 00:14:29
I think the article is brilliant with challenges to radically change course as we face this disease in 2009. I find the last paragraph most interesting, because THAT is the call to action. Do we have anyone interested in heeding Dr. Bellman's call? It will turn sex education on its head and reopen blistering arguments about gays, the disease, and plague. I sat out the Act Up Years. I'd be interested in helping Dr. Bellman's proposed campaign. Now what?

peregrine, new orleans, 2008-12-15 09:14:17
A Dr. chastizing newly infected patients? Prepostorous! Destigmatization of HIV is an uphill battle that needs to be fought. People are sexual beings and as such, it is not practical to expect abstinence to be a viable solution to control HIV spread. But, I believe the use of condoms is essential, not only to prevent HIV spread, but also to prevent the risk of other STD infections. As an HIV poz, I certainly do no want to become infected with any other diseases!

Thomas F. Olson, New York, 2008-12-10 12:14:23
What a wonderful article written in a nonjudgemental manner. Being in the medical field myself, I only wish more MD's practiced in this manner.

JO, , 2008-12-10 11:45:16
Great article!

Robert Evans, New York, 2008-12-10 11:13:44
I and many other folks who have HIV will be happy that it may be reduced for others and that there may be light at the end of the tunnel after all. The election of Obama was a great source of hope for folks all around the world.

Wiser, NY, 2008-12-04 18:05:20
This is an extraordinarily clear, concise, practical and well thought through article which also conveys great feelings of passion and hope. Dr. Bellman is healing in his writing as well as his clinical practice. Treatment is more than chemistry. Thank you.