Many things have changed in the last 43 years of human history; others, perhaps more than we think, remain the same. This is approximately the age of the HIV pandemic in our species, a tragedy on a global scale that has already claimed at least some 30 and 50 million lives.
Again, just because the disease is still considered a pandemic doesn’t meen everything stays the same.Sonia de Castro and María José Camarasa, researchers at the Institute of Medical Chemistry (IQM) of the Superior Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and authors of the book HIV and AIDS: a journey of hope and resilience count to 20 minutes that “HIV infection and AIDS are not diseases that can be overcome, but It is indeed no longer a death sentence; With proper treatment, infected people can live full and healthy lives.”
“We still face persistent challenges”
These experts explain that in these more than four decades we have seen “progress”. unusual scientists and doctorssuch as highly effective antiretroviral therapy (HAART) which allows HIV-infected people to lead practically normal lives, with a life expectancy equivalent to that of uninfected people; “Major milestones have also been achieved in prevention, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which have dramatically reduced infection rates in many regions of the world.”
“However,” they continue, “we still face several persistent challenges, such as unequal access to treatment or the lack of a preventive vaccine and definitive cure. Also, stigma and social barriers prevention and treatment efforts continue to slow downespecially in the most vulnerable communities.
Such as, in recent years there has been “the development of new drugs aimed at other therapeutic targets of the virus, which have expanded the options for treat HIV infection even in people with resistance to traditional drugs.”
“There were immediate and massive results”
Likewise, they point to “the expansion of PrEP and PEP” as “more immediate and massive” results. “These tools have transformed HIV prevention in many communities,” they say, “considerably reducing transmission.”
“Prevention works and is very vital“, they say.”These tools and the use of condoms are very effective and prevent the spread of the virus.”
For their part, the researchers add, “the few cases of recovery after bone marrow transplant have made it possible to demonstrate this”. it is possible to eliminate the virus from the body. However, these treatments are extraordinary and not applicable on a large scale, as transplants are complex and risky.”
and there is other promises on the horizon. According to the authors, for example, “the development of long-acting injectable drugs stands out, which can replace daily therapies with monthly or bimonthly doses, making the management of HIV infection easier. Research is also being carried out on vaccines and functional treatments” which are at different stages, even though there is still time for them to become a practical reality.
“Inequality is the main barrier”
In any case, the fight against the AIDS pandemic must also face other problems: “Despite this promising progress, HIV remains a global threat this requires attention and resources.” For De Castro and Camarasa, chief among these challenges is “global inequality in access to these advances.”
“While in developed countries treatments are available and progress is being made in reducing new infections, in many parts of the world transmission speeds remain high. “Social determinants such as poverty, limited access to healthcare, and stigma continue to exacerbate these disparities,” they add.
“This inequality is one of the main obstacles to ending the pandemic,” they argue. “In developed countries, mortality due to HIV has fallen dramatically, but in disadvantaged countries it remains one of the main causes of death. This not only severely affects the lives of infected people in these countries,but also contributes to the spread of the virus globally.”
And they add: “Organizations such as UNAIDS and the Global Fund have contributed to reducing this gap, but efforts remain insufficient. To solve this problem it is necessary to increase international funding, ensure the transfer of technology for the local production of medicines, fight policies that perpetuate health
“As long as I’m here economic and social barriers to treatment and prevention, we will not be able to talk about a real victory against HIV”, they underline.
“When it emerged it was a death sentence”
be that as it may, the researchers argue that “the story of HIV is a story about how humanity responded to a global crisis with creativity, determination and solidarity”.
“HIV was considered a ‘divine punishment’ against LGTBI+ communities until it was seen that it affected heterosexuals too”
“When the pandemic broke out – they say – a positive HIV diagnosis was a death sentence. Today, thanks to science and activism, HIV infection is a manageable chronic condition. “This woudl not have been possible without the resilience and hope for change of the affected communities, who fought against stigma and indifference, as well as without the efforts of scientists, doctors and activists who created an unprecedented global response system “.
In fact, they remember how “at the beginning of the epidemic it was HIV stigmatized as “divine punishment” to gay and LGTBIQ+ communities” and that only when it was seen to affect other groups (particularly heterosexual people) did attention shift to a more general public health concern.
“Stigma kills”
“we have made progress,” they say.”In many countries the visibility of LGBTIQ+ communities and greater social acceptance have made it easier for people to seek diagnoses and treatments without fear of rejection.
“But in other regions the stigma remains devastating, perpetuated by discriminatory laws, religious and cultural prejudices and social attitudes that marginalize the most vulnerable people” they discuss.
“Stigma kills. discrimination and prejudice They are barriers as harmful as the lack of access to medicines. they hinder prevention efforts, discourage testing, and perpetuate misinformation. This not only affects LGBTIQ+ people, but also all communities living with HIV.”
“To move forward,” they conclude,“it is indeed essential to learn from past mistakes: to fight stigma with inclusive and accessible education,and to ensure that health laws,policies and programs are inclusive and free of discrimination. Only with an approach that includes both scientific and social can we overcome prejudices which still hinder the fight against HIV and AIDS.
References
Sonia de Castro, María José Camarasa.HIV and AIDS: a journey of hope and resilience. Superior Council for scientific Research (2024). ISBN: 9788400112943
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