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You said it all in a nutshell, HIV affects all of us whether or not we are negative or positive.
Excited I am, about life each day and if I can get a pill good and if I have to stay off a pill for some time .. good too. It is a little overwheming to make policy statments in an abstract form, but the truth brings up its ugly head at times to adress this excitment. .. like this is not an epidemic, it is a pandemic with 27 million people without treatment. Why because no one care about them. Surly the big drug companies can see that selling 27 million new pills a day then month after month is more profitable than strong arming the American People for 1000 percent profit in their pockets for American ARVS. If they open the market with ARV's at 2 dollars a pill for all people, HIV, AIDS, 27 million in need and PREP people, then they could easily have a pot of Trillions of dollars a month in new revenue. Which is much larger than the Billions they split now in the over pricing to Americans and Europeans. If PhARMA was smart and caring about people they would open up the market and pass out the pills inexpensivly and make Trillions monthly and save Millions of lives(OTC), yes a long term receiable for our american work force, year after year like a lifetime morgage. I do not think it is ironic that PWA's who have been an open experiment for science have brought forth treatment and as Paul watched the brave be experimented on and as he and many reviewed the out comes to make their choice on which drug to take and many make the choice to stay poor to get a pill or take one's chances with earning a few bucks and live one day at a time then the end of AIDS is far off for many. I wonder if Paul is adherent to his pills daily and I wonder how many PWA's are being honest about adhence to ARVs and how many started early. Test and Treat needs to be an option with all the science put on the table for the HIV person both good and bad, for a blanket statment to say that the best science is to treat because of a quasi science screening called Viral load is sad, for this science should not and can not run on assumtion when it comes to people's lifes, hell many leading scienctist do not think we have isolated a HIV virus and also assert that the viral load test is build on false assumtions. We make up desriptive letters like ARVs when taking about treatment and then HEART and the truth is that it is chemo-therpy experiment. This new test and treat is a new experimental option for Reseach and Development that I do not want to be a part of, for I seen enough of the past dieing of AIDS and many more dieing from the on going experiments with toxic side effects. My advise to HIV folks is to tink, research, pray and if you are not sick, than one doesn't need treatment in my opinion. I also suggest that Doctors do their home work too and to not just go along with the Drug Companies Studies and the Belt Way peoples medical advise. For what kind of doctor is going to write a scrip if the person is not sick, Do no Harm. ( oh I forgot about the Internet and how generic truvada may be avaiable 24/7 via the internet without a scrip and cheaply too for many countries you do not need a doctor to ge medicine,) Now that all the policy is laid out, it is time to ask for more money and more money and feel sure NMAC is getting a big non restricted grant from the Big Pharma for these statments. (who can we trust in truth of these policy) Go, NMAC for you folks are leading someone, somewhere and hope it is the right direction. Stand up HIV people and be heard for your Cure.
Wouldn't it be ironic if illegal Mexican immigrants (LMIs) were the reason we stopped the drugs, crime and exploitation of human services in the U.S?! After all of the blame, all of the discrimination, all of the judgment, there is something quite wonderful about the prospect of LMIs bringing an end to this devastating social problem. Get Out as Prevention, or GOP, is the “light at the end of the tunnel.” The solution will require LMIs to go back to Mexico for the rest of their lives. Etc., etc., etc. Silly isn’t it? Paul, I agree with what you say regarding treatment as prevention. Recent research has demonstrated that lowering the viral load of a person living with HIV can significantly reduce the risk of transmission. But, the goal of your vision; putting this responsibility of ending the epidemic on people living with HIV/AIDs is concerning. You’re looking at HIV/AIDs and all that it is through a peephole! How about we just eradicate all at once everyone who has HIV/AIDS? Problem solved. C’mon, Paul. Really? Sounds like a breeding ground for more prejudice, more discrimination, more fear…more stigma, the very thing each of us living with HIV/AIDS has to deal with every day. I was negative once as were the majority of us living with this dreadful disease. But, I made a choice as thousands of others do to not use condoms, not use clean works, and not use clean syringes. What about those who are still negative? They have a role in this social effort as well. Ending this epidemic starts with all of us.
Paul, as much as I would like to agree with your conclusion, the idea of "treatment as prevention" begs the question of why there is no cure after all these years. Yes, if HIV+ people stopped transmitting it, the virus would die out in the uninfected population. But the 25 million human beings who live with HIV will continue to pay the price in humiliation, suffering, and at best, premature death.
I've said this all along. Why would the government treat us with meds costing thounds per month without the benefit of prevention. This has been a hidden secret for many years. It's time the truth is out. The stima of HIV/AIDS is nearly over.
Thanks for keeping us as consumers and allies informed. This type of information keep us as advocates motivated for the cause. Reggie Dunbar II GAPWA Ex Director Atlanta GA
Hi Paul, I'd love to hear more of the science behind these claims. I'm in a serodiscordant relationship and my status is a big issue for the two of us when it comes to the bedroom... I'm fearful of any cut, or even topping the man I love... And I think he is scared as well. I've researched this issue and it always seems to be inconclusive at best with two experts saying two different things. I've been undetectable for 3 years now and a cd4 count of 966, if you could site some sources, or point me to more medical articles on this I would appreciate it. CWM
Queen
The complacency needs to stop pure and simple.
August 4, 2011