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Treatment Is Prevention Part 1By Gary Bell August 18, 2011 Some of you may be aware that the annual HIV Prevention Conference has been taking place in Atlanta this week. One of the unique aspects of HIV conferences is that they tend to bring together an eclectic mix of people: consumers, researchers, medical providers, non profits and other assorted advocates. As we, as a society, struggle with finding new and creative ways to reduce the transmission of HIV, it was only natural to consider the impact a medical model might have on this challenge. Perhaps one of the most exciting studies within the last several months demonstrates the benefit of immediate, aggressive HIV treatment in reducing transmission. Historically, HIV prevention targeted those who were negative. Eventually, more emphasis was placed on "Prevention for Postives," which focused primarily on changing the potentially risky behavior of people who are HIV+. However the promising results of a study, known as HPTN 052,that evaluated whether the immediate use of HAART (Highly Active Anti-retroviral therapy) by HIV-infected individuals would reduce transmission of HIV to their HIV-uninfected partners (which would also potentially benefit the HIV-infected individual), demonstrates the increased role of medical treatment in prevention. The results of the study were truly groundbreaking: there was a 96 percent reduction in risk of HIV transmission to the HIV-uninfected sexual partners. The results of this study underscores previous efforts to test as many people as possible by making HIV a routine part of medical care as well as aggressive community mobilization by showing that if we can get HIV+ individuals into care and keep them there, it may reduce overall HIV incidence and save lives. Put another way, this study adds another needed weapon to our arsenal as we continue to make progress if our war against this formidable, entrenched enemy: HIV. Get e-mail notifications every time Gary Bell's blog is updated.
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Transition to Hope This year marks Bell's 14th as the executive director of the Philadelphia-based BEBASHI (Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health), founded in 1985 as the nation's first AIDS organization serving African Americans with HIV. Bell has been widely praised, not only for increasing funding and accountability at a time when HIV donations have plummeted, but also for launching such innovative programs as a women's initiative, prison-discharge planning, and, most recently, a diabetes intervention. More About Gary: Profile Subscribe to Gary's Blog:
Recent Posts:
May 16, 2014 - Thank You, Mr. Sterling: A Blog Entry by Gary Bell
May 2, 2014 - Ignorance Is Bliss (Not!): A Blog Entry by Gary Bell June 18, 2013 - Were Michael Douglas' Comments About HPV Helpful? A Blog Entry by Gary Bell May 16, 2013 - HPV Vaccination -- A Wasted Resource for African Americans? A Blog Entry by Gary Bell February 1, 2013 - The Opioid Solution and HIV: From the Frying Pan Into the Fire -- A Blog Entry by Dave R. A Brief Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by TheBody.com's bloggers are entirely their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheBody.com itself. |
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