HIV/AIDS by Jayme Foster

As you go on about your daily life, do you ever think about Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)? HIV is a virus that affects the immune system by killing your t-cells, which fight off infections in the body. This epidemic has currently affected 36.7 million people around the world also with 1.8 children also being affected by this disease worldwide in that count (A Timeline of HIV/AIDS).  Although HIV is incurable, assessing this issue can inform others about this disease and also protect them from this epidemic. To be well educated and actually see the absurdity of HIV can save a lot of people.

Around 1920, HIV was believed to be originated in Kinshasa, which is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (History of HIV and AIDS). Scientists addressed the source of HIV as a type of chimpanzee that was killed from hunters and was transfused through the animal’s infectious blood. Data expresses that the epidemic didn’t arrive to the United States until mid-late 1970’s, but there were situations documented before 1970 (pg.1). People thought this epidemic to be only passed down by homosexual sex, they called this GRID (gay-related immune system) before it was address as HIV/AIDS. In September of 1982, the term “AIDS” was first introduced by Centers for Disease Control (pg.1). The idea of getting HIV/AIDS by contact, was ruled out by CDC. They stated that you can’t get the disease from contact, food, water, air, or surfaces. In 1984, CDC suggested to stay away from injecting yourself with drug use needles and avoid sharing needles (pg.1). The first antiretroviral drug, Zidovudine (AZT), was approved by the FDA in March 1987 as treatment for HIV/AIDS (pg.1). Another way to contract the disease was breastfeeding, which was announced in July of 1987 by the World Health Organization (pg.1). In December 1988, one of the most important days of this epidemic, December 1^st was declared First World AIDS Day (pg.1). Three years later, the Red Ribbon Project was released as a symbol for compassion for people caring HIV. AIDS became the 4^th largest cause of death worldwide and number one cause of death in Africa. During George W. Bush’s presidency, he announced the idea of PEPFAR. This was a five-year plan to combat AIDS, and help fix the worldwide problems.

This absurd epidemic has taken a lot of lives, and it’s only gotten worse since it’s been discovered. The epidemic started from thousands and has progressed to millions on millions. In 1985, every region in the world at the least reported one case of AIDS, this estimating to a total of 20,303 cases total (History of HIV and AIDS). At the end of 1986, 85 countries shared 38,402 cases of AIDS to the World Health Organization (pg.1). Africa had 2,323 cases, Americas with 31,742, Asia with 84, Europe had 3,858 cases, and Oceania with 395 (pg.1). The numbers continue to keep growing worldwide and in the United States. In December 1987, 71,751 cases of AIDS was reported to the World Health Organization, with the U.S having over half of those cases (pg.1). WHO came up with an estimate that 5-10 million people were diagnosed with HIV worldwide (pg.1). In 1993, 700,000 people were assumed to have AIDS in Asia and Pacific, with the number increasing to 2.5 million people with AIDS worldwide (pg.1). UNAIDS had equated a number of 16,000 infections of HIV/AIDS occurring daily, and estimated 30 million had HIV in the world (pg.1). Recently reported we now have 36.7 million people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS worldwide, with 1.8 million of that number being children globally (A Timeline of HIV/AIDS). This issue has caused many lives and even though there is no cure, we still need to be aware of our choices and actions. As a nation we have to come together and fix this issue, and as individuals we need to be cautious in what we get ourselves into.

One of the biggest HIV stories to go down in history, is the history of Magic Johnson. Magic was only 32 years old when he found about this horrifying news in 1991 (Okura, Lynn). He was sitting in his hotel room in Utah getting ready for a preseason game, when he got an unexpected call from his doctor. Magic’s doctor told him to get a flight back to L.A immediately. Magic arrived at the doctor’s office and when he got the new he was diagnosed with HIV, he laid on the floor in shock for hours. Magic had a wife who was pregnant at the time of this disturbing news, and he was incredibly devastated he had to break down the news to his pregnant wife. A HIV/AIDS activist named Elizabeth Glaser, convinced Magic to go public with his news (20 Years After HIV...). A press conference was held, and Magic Johnson announced his retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers due to his diagnosis. Now Magic gives lessons to young people about HIV/AIDS and holds events regarding this epidemic.

Nobody thinks about this ridiculous epidemic as they go about their daily lives. HIV/AIDS has taken very many lives and will continue to if we don’t take more action than we already have. If we continue to be careless of our actions, the worse will happen. HIV/AIDS may be incurable, but it can be preventable and that starts with the people.

A horrific epidemic such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), has no solution. However, scientists have come up with different ways to avoid this disease. One of many things scientists have come up with is Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). ART is a drug that strengthens the immune system and decreases the risk of infections. The World Health Organization (WHO), estimated that a total of 17 million people in 2015 we’re receiving this drug (Hagmann, Michael). This drug is more efficient when taken every day and is well kept up with, and will increase life expectancy of the patient. Medication for HIV or ART, is the best way to go if you contract HIV/AIDS. It’s easier to take, few side effects, lots of different types of medication you can choose to use, and you can start as soon as possible. Another alternative is practicing abstinence or having monogamous relationships. Abstinence is the practice of preventing oneself from engaging into sexual relations. If people can restrain themselves from sexual activity, they can never get HIV/AIDS. However the practice of abstinence depends on the individual. Being in a monogamous relationship means to only be married to one person at a time. This keeps you from interacting with anyone else outside of your relationship that could possibly have HIV. A third alternative we may all know of, is condoms. Condoms protect people from STD’s and other diseases such as HIV. People can decrease their risk of ever retrieving HIV by having safe sex. If they cannot perform this action, people can increase their risk of contracting the disease. You can never be too sure what someone has, so being safe is a major key when it comes to HIV/AIDS. People who have HIV, and had just given birth, have the opportunity of using food or formula for the baby. These are the safest alternatives for breastfeeding and it prevents the likelihood of HIV being passed down from mother to child.

Albert Camus thought that life was meaningless and powerless. That no matter what we did, we couldn’t change fate because we we’re going to die anyways. Camus would think HIV/AIDS, would mean nothing when it came to the individual’s life. He already pictures life as meaningless, so he would think this wouldn’t effect much of someone’s life, because they’re going to die anyways. Camus would think there is no solution for this epidemic, because we have no power. We have no say or way of curing this disease, and so far, we really don’t have a cure for HIV/AIDS. He would think we couldn’t solve it, no matter how hard we tried.

HIV/AIDS is a terrifying disease that you have to live with for the rest of your life. This epidemic is continuously affecting thousands, even millions, of people around the world. We need to continue to pass down knowledge, provide medication, and work harder and harder each day to find a cure for this disease. HIV/AIDS may not have a solution, but there is plenty of ways to avoid and control it.

Work Cited:

"A Timeline of HIV/AIDS." AIDS.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.

"History of HIV and AIDS." AVERT. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.

Okura, Lynn. "Magic Johnson Describes The Day He Found Out He Was HIV-Positive (VIDEO)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 02 Dec. 2013. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.

"20 Years After HIV Announcement, Magic Johnson Emphasizes: "I Am Not Cured"." PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.

"Problems and Solutions Overview." GiveWell. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2017.

"HIV Prevention - How to Prevent HIV Infections?" Medwiser. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2017.

Griffin, R. Morgan. "Advances in HIV Treatment: Understanding ART." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2017.

Hagmann, Michael. "Study Confirms Effectiveness of Antiretroviral Drugs for HIV Patients."Bulletin of the World Health Organization. World Health Organization, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2017.

"Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Coverage among All Age Groups." World Health Organization. World Health Organization, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2017.