The sequester and HIV/AIDS

This year, we have had some educational moments in HIV/AIDS treatment.

1. A paper Ive been meaning to blog about demonstrated that the sooner an HIV+ individual starts antiretroviral therapy, the better. Ideally, <4 months after infection:

Enhanced CD4+ T-Cell Recovery with Earlier HIV-1 Antiretroviral Therapy

2. A baby might have successfully cleared HIV-1 infection after immediate treatment with antiretrovirals (and possibly other unknown factors at this point).

We might have jack squat for an HIV-1 vaccine, but we have made great strides in HIV/AIDS treatment by the development of antiretroviral therapy.  The 'trick' has been getting the medications to the people who need it. Before when I said this, I was referring to the poorest people on the planet, those living in extreme poverty in Africa, SE Asia, for example. There is no way they could ever afford thousands-of-dollars a month antiretrovirals, if they ever get diagnosed as HIV+ in the first place.

Certainly we have a problem with antiretroviral access and HIV testing in the West, but it pales in comparison to what other countries are dealing with.

In a fight to reach the bottom, this is happening, thanks to the 'sequester' that happened in the US.

Outside of cutting NIH and CDC funding, thus cutting research that can (and does) save lives, the sequester is cutting 1) funding for HIV testing and 2) antiretroviral treatment.

This means that more people who are infected wont know it. People who even know they are infected wont get access to medications that will lower their viral load and improve their lives. No medication means one is more likely to transmit the virus to others, who will not know they are infected due to lack of testing. People who even know they are infected wont get access to medications that will lower their viral load and improve their lives. No medication means one is more likely to transmit the virus to others, who will not know they are infected due to lack of testing. People who even know they are infected wont get access to medications that will lower their viral load and improve their lives. No medication means one is more likely to transmit the virus to others, who will not know they are infected due to lack of testing.

And so on and so on and so on until we are royally screwed.

And lets not forget the cost of all the medical treatment undiagnosed and untreated HIV/AIDS patients will need due to complications of HIV/AIDS.

Cutting off our noses to spite our face, we are making 'financial cuts' that will cost more, money and lives, in the long run.

*slowclap*