The first known case of HIV infection
occurs in 1959, in a person from Africa (Zhu T et. al. 1998). To date, there
are nearly 34 million of people worldwide known to be infected with HIV (WHO
2011). However, how much exactly 34 million is? According to World Bank,
Malaysia’s population in 2011 is approximately 29 million, which means the
number of people living with HIV/AIDS is more than the whole population of
Malaysia!
However, what is so scary about HIV/AIDS?
If we look from the perspective of number of mortality per year, HIV/AIDS is
1.7 million but it is not a large value if compared to others (cancer 7.6 million,
tuberculosis 1.4 million, car accidents 1.3 million).
The answer is: no cure! We all know that
there is no cure for HIV/AIDS. Unlike cancers or tuberculosis where they can be
cured if treatments are given early, people contracted with HIV/AIDS will have
to live for the rest of their lives with the infection.
However, there is still a hope for human
race surviving from HIV/AIDS. In March 2013, a newborn baby from Mississippi
was cured of HIV for the first time. It was a great breakthrough in the
research of finding ways to treat HIV/AIDS. If the treatment is effective, about 300 000
to 400 000 babies born with HIV each year will be freed from HIV (Winslow R.
2013).
How about other HIV/AIDS patients? As the
treatment might only work on newborn babies and “The Berlin Patient” who claims
to be cured of HIV after bone marrow transplant yet to be authenticated, the research
of treatments for those who have been infected with HIV/AIDS for years still
has a long way to go (Howard B.C. 2011). According to The National Agency for
the Control of HIV and AIDS (Nigeria), it could take 10 to 20 years to find a
way to effectively manage and cure HIV/AIDS (Daily times. 2013).
Therefore, before the day we are able to
cure HIV/AIDS comes, management and preventive measures must be taken as a
response to The World Health Organization’s theme “Getting to zero: zero new
HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS related deaths.” It is crucial for everyone to take
responsibility to control the spreading of HIV and care for the HIV/AIDS patients.
 |
| May all the babies be well and happy. |
by AzureSky
P.S.: The opinions expressed by the writer do not represent the view of TuPSS Editorial Board.
