This is in response to the editorial ”What`s fair and what`s not on AIDS” (July 19). Although much of what is discussed is partially true, there is much that was left unsaid.
It is true that the incidence of AIDS has increased enormously since it was first identified and that the World Health Organization tells us there are at least 10 to 12 million people infected with HIV worldwide.
Also, unfortunately, ”there is still no cure, no preventive vaccine, no fully effective drugs” and ”few new cases of HIV infection need now occur if recommended precautions are followed (and) most Americans . . . know these facts.”
What is not said is that even though many Americans do know a fair amount about AIDS, they are not altering their behaviors that put them at risk. Many people still erroneously believe that since they do not belong to certain groups, that they cannot get HIV. HIV does not discriminate; anyone engaging in risky behavior is at risk.
We do have very good evidence showing us how HIV is spread. It is spread most easily through unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse and by sharing needles and/or drug works with a person with HIV. It is crucial that the word get out in such a way as to effect behavior change. Our best weapon against AIDS is education and we need to work to ensure that everyone is educated in a culturally appropriate way.
Although the statistics concerning other diseases are accurate, they are presented in a misleading manner. HIV is not like heart disease, cancers or strokes. It is an infectious disease that can be prevented. We can combat cancer, heart disease and strokes by continuing to do research, but we cannot remove the risk for having any of those diseases. We can, and should, continue to work to help people live longer, healthier lives and prevent heart disease, cancer and strokes, but we cannot prevent them altogether as we can with HIV/ AIDS.
The editorial also correctly states that approximately 51,000 Americans will die this year as a result of AIDS. However, the misleading comparison with the number of deaths from heart disease, cancer and strokes is like comparing apples and oranges.
It took nine years for the first 100,000 people to die of AIDS, only two years for the second 100,000. The AIDS epidemic is accelerating drastically, whereas the number of cases of other diseases, while tragic, has been relatively stable for this period. Are we willing to let this continue until 712,254 lives per year are lost due to AIDS when it ”catches up” to heart disease?
You comment that ”the sick and the dying should not have to compete against each other for help.” Bravo. We should not have to take funding from one disease and put it into another disease. However, we should take a closer, well-informed look at each disease and its impact on our lives and our communities before we make dangerous comparisons about priorities for our government.
