According to the World Health Organization, “more than 70 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 35 million people have died of HIV.” Unlike other viruses, our bodies are unable to get rid of HIV. So once an individual contracts it, they have it for life. This virus attacks the host’s immune system which—in turn—opens up the possibility of other diseases to wreak havoc within the body. To be more specific, AIDS.gov states that HIV’s objective is to attack key points within the immune system. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for AIDS. However—thanks to the advancements in medical science—there are a few treatments available to keep the virus contained. One highly controversial treatment is the administration of
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It’s understandable with anything new that come out to the public, people question whether or not if this is the way to go about when handling things. However, skeptics can’t deny that it is a strong tool that has a substantial success rate of blocking out the virus. with a 90% chance of success, It only makes sense that we should be pushing for the use of easily accesible PrEP for the communities that need it most. When thinking back to the peak of the epidemic, anyone that was diagnosed with the virus was considered a dead man. Now—thanks to the advancements in research and funding—we have stronger and safer alternatives to help fight the war on HIV and AIDS. Unfortunately, PrEP hasn’t been implemented nearly as much as one might think. According to Highleyman’s article, “More than 79,000 people in the US have started Truvada for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) over the past four years.” Some might argue this because of its high cost. According to PrEP Facts, “Without insurance, out-of-pocket costs can be as high as $13,000 per year.” While it is a bit pricey, It’s even more expensive to treat someone with HIV. In an article written by Adam Wenge over at Healthline, One such person goes by the name of Justin Terry-Smith, a man diagnosed with HIV back in 2006. According to Wenge, Justin is located in Washington DC, a city with a very high rate of infection. “CDC reports that the estimated lifetime cost of treating HIV is $379,000 (in 2010 dollars), and that nearly 30 percent of those living with the virus are uninsured”(Wenge). Justin says that “People need to understand that our bodies are not meant to be medicated against a chronic illness every single day it not only cost us physically but financially whether we have insurance or not.” In short,
It’s understandable with anything new that come out to the public, people question whether or not if this is the way to go about when handling things. However, skeptics can’t deny that it is a strong tool that has a substantial success rate of blocking out the virus. with a 90% chance of success, It only makes sense that we should be pushing for the use of easily accesible PrEP for the communities that need it most. When thinking back to the peak of the epidemic, anyone that was diagnosed with the virus was considered a dead man. Now—thanks to the advancements in research and funding—we have stronger and safer alternatives to help fight the war on HIV and AIDS. Unfortunately, PrEP hasn’t been implemented nearly as much as one might think. According to Highleyman’s article, “More than 79,000 people in the US have started Truvada for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) over the past four years.” Some might argue this because of its high cost. According to PrEP Facts, “Without insurance, out-of-pocket costs can be as high as $13,000 per year.” While it is a bit pricey, It’s even more expensive to treat someone with HIV. In an article written by Adam Wenge over at Healthline, One such person goes by the name of Justin Terry-Smith, a man diagnosed with HIV back in 2006. According to Wenge, Justin is located in Washington DC, a city with a very high rate of infection. “CDC reports that the estimated lifetime cost of treating HIV is $379,000 (in 2010 dollars), and that nearly 30 percent of those living with the virus are uninsured”(Wenge). Justin says that “People need to understand that our bodies are not meant to be medicated against a chronic illness every single day it not only cost us physically but financially whether we have insurance or not.” In short,