Yes that’s right! AIDS is the disease alot of us will inevitably see as practitioners one day.
Let’s revise abit of microbiology here. HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) is a retrovirus with 2 serotypes – HIV1 & HIV2. It infects CD4+ cells of our immune system such as T lymphocytes and macrophages. This renders the immune system less effective and the body less protected against invading microbes.
A vaccine or cure has yet to be discovered. I’ve had conversations with some of our own friends who strongly oppose the development of this vaccine. Their ‘Christian’ views see it as a deserved punishment and that God introduced this disease into our species to punish us for sexual immorality.
What about those people who were born with HIV? What about the people who did not know their spouses had the disease? Think of the medical professionals that got the disease from other patients? How about the few blood transfusions that go through undetected?
My stand on finding a vaccine is clear: we must push all out to find a cure or a vaccine for this devastating killer virus. We are slowly running out of antiretroviral drugs used to prolong the life of those suffering from it.
As with polio myelitis, HIV, as the name suggests, only has a human reservoir. We can vaccinate and eradicate this disease from the face of this earth. Learning from previous mistakes, mankind should not be stupid enough to ‘create’ another sexually transmitted disease that kills one another. (HIV was mutated from the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus 1 initially infecting only certain primates)
Also, let us not look at those HIV+ fellow humans with disdain. They are not neccessarily sexually deviant or immoral. Even if so, we should not judge them because everybody makes mistakes.
To you prudes who have not witnessed the real world for all the evil it yields; not everyone is brought up in as controlled and protected household as yours. As the world westernizes and sexual freedom is ’promoted’ we must not assume Asian values to be superior. We are not! No one is actually superior. We are all comrades in the never ending war against those we can’t see and can’t beat – microbes. (And some of you feel like you’re in some spiritual battle – good for you.)
We must not allow Asian stigmatization of sexually transmitted diseases to inhibit a very well westernizing society like ours. Enacted stigma of HIV+ individuals is on the rise; as medical professionals actively taking part in this stigma is disgraceful.
We do not advocate irresponsible sexual behaviour but we MUST NOT commit the err of allowing our values to marginalize any sufferers of AIDS. We MUST NOT shun the very people we will take an oath to help.
Join me comrades, this World AIDS Day, to spread the knowledge of safe sex and discourage the negative labelling of HIV+ friends. Peace out.
Quote: As with polio myelitis, HIV, as the name suggests, only has a human reservoir. We can vaccinate and eradicate this disease from the face of this earth.
Very hopefuly Joshua. But this is still more than a decade away.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/01/eveningnews/main2222879.shtml
Take it from the richest couple in the world, for they fund the most money to AIDS research.
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Couric: I know that much of the funding for the foundation goes to develop a vaccine to prevent the spread of HIV. How close are we to developing such a vaccine?
Gates: Unfortunately, on the front of the vaccine, it is the ultimate solution, but it’s over a decade away, which is why we think (it’s) all the more reason that today, we really also need to focus on prevention — making sure people understand what is available to them today to stop spreading the disease.
Just to be controversial here, people should be responsible for their actions. To face discrimination just cos’ they have AIDS is sad, but it cannot be avoided. Raising awareness through the media and education will help, but it is ultimately the AIDS sufferers who will have to take the step of courage.
There was an article on this dude who has contracted AIDS, confided in a colleague, and this colleague told everyone in the office. He faced much discrimination as people avoided him and stuff. What did he do? He seeked permission from his superior, and conducted a teaching session to educate his colleagues on AIDS, and how it would not spread to them just cos they share food or water with him. It helped TREMENDOUSLY.
So, AIDS sufferers should just stop wallowing in self-pity and complain about pple who discriminate against them. Sometimes the world is harsh but that is NOT your excuse to bow down.
You can only get hurt as much as you want to be hurt.
- Jeff, playing mean.
Jeff,
Discrimination against AIDS victims is as good as stigmatization of everyone with a disease. As medical students, we are already falling into the trap of medicalizing people. I may not be the best person to say this but defining a person by his/her disease is in NO WAY going to help that patient.
It has been 20 years since AIDS was discovered and why are we still ‘afraid’ of it? Would you shun someone with HIV like the plague? Or would you give counselling and responsible treatment to this patient?
Avoiding the AIDS topic decreases awareness and this decreased awareness will result in the proliferation of the disease.
Being responsible for your actions sometimes isn’t good enough Jeff. Some people are born with the disease. Some people catch it even through monogamous, faithful relationships. Who are we to ‘blame’ them?
I, personally, love the idea of a continuous battle against the microbial enemy. But a killer disease like this must be battled on more fronts than the physician. It must be confronted by every social member – stopping stigmatization is the first, and most important, step.
cheers,
Josh