HIV AIDS: Helping Along the Way

HIV/AIDS continues to dramatically affect peopleAIDS has increased. This illustrates the
all over the world despite preventive measuresimprovements of drug therapy. Successful drug
such as educational awareness and testingregimes help contain HIV so that it does not
programs and treatment initiatives such as drugbecome AIDS and help the body fight off
research and development. Even in the Unitedopportunistic infections - infections or diseases
States, where government funding, medicalthat can capitalize on a weakened immune
technology, and education would seemingly defeatsystem of an HIV/AIDS patient, but not in a
this disease, the epidemic continues. According tohealthy person - which are normally the ultimate
the United States Center for Disease Controlcause of death.
(CDC) over 1,000,000 people are living HIV/AIDSThanks to these efforts and more, today's
in this country and approximately 40,000 newpicture is brighter than the past. People with HIV
cases are reported each year. Although high, thisAIDS are now living longer and healthier lives, but
is a significant drop from the new annual casesthey still face serious health problems. These
reported during 1980's, which approached 150,000.complications include aversion to medicine,
The statistics from the CDC are an importantafflictions stemming from a weakened immune
resource for tracking changes and measuring thesystem, and adverse effects of the infection
impact of efforts, whether focused on treatmentitself. Because of these on-going vulnerabilities, in
or prevention. An overview of recent data2004 HIV/AIDS was reclassified from an
reveals important trends. First, preventioninfectious disease to a chronic disease. As such,
awareness and educational programs that aim tothe treatment strategy, adopted from the Guide
inform and promote less risky behavior areto Primary Care for People with HIV/AIDS,
reducing the number of new cases within thestresses a comprehensive long-term model that
United States.involves clinical attention, proactive community
Second, despite the efforts of these programsgroups, and self-management.
people are continuing to transmit HIV/AIDS. ThisWithin this model, the contributions of community
is largely due to risky behavior revolving aroundgroups provide HIV/AIDS patients with resources
drug use and unprotected sex, but continued lackand support to improve their lives. Services and
of HIV/AIDS testing is also to blame. It isdirect care programs help patients with financial
estimated that close to thirty percent of peoplematters, housing, nutritional needs, counseling,
infected with HIV are asymptomatic and do notsupport groups, and transportation. Given that the
know it. Routine testing remains major priority,national budgets are invested in large-scale
and as such, officials have tried to institute theseeducational programs and research, individual
blood tests as a routine clinical procedure.impact is felt most strongly when contributions go
Third, while the number of new active cases hasto organizations that provide services directly to
decreased, the number of people living with HIVindividuals in need.