(Continued from page 29)
Treatment as Prevention (TasP) are
prevention methods that use ART to decrease
the risk of HIV transmission. Antiretroviral
treatment reduces the HIV viral load to
very low levels ('undetectable'), reducing
the risk of onwards HIV transmission. One
widely-prescribed method, Pre-exposure
prophylaxis (PrEP), uses antiretroviral drugs
to protect HIV-negative people from HIV
before potential exposure. Trials have shown
that when taken consistently and correctly,
PrEP is very effective, but it is important
that PrEP is offered as part of a combination
package of prevention initiatives, and does
not replace other, more effective methods
like condoms.
And just last month (Nov. 2016), scientists
in Israel made a breakthrough in a potential
cure. A drug now being tested causes
HIV-infected cells to self-destruct without
harming the rest of the body. The active
ingredient causes several copies of the virus’s
DNA to enter the infected cell (instead of just
one copy), causing the cell to self-destruct.
Testing has shown that the groundbreaking
treatment decreased the HIV virus count in
the blood samples by as much 97 percent in
just 8 days.
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WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE
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Furthering
awareness
is
important because people’s
attitudes can make living with
HIV very hard. Stigma and
discriminatory
attitudes are
still rampant
globally
against
people living with
the disease. There
are many ways we can
all fight HIV stigma
in our lives and in our
community, whether you are
HIV-positive or HIV-negative.
Break the silence – talk about your
experiences, fears and concerns
about getting HIV or transmitting
HIV. Challenge attitudes, beliefs and
behaviors that contribute to HIV
stigma. Don't be a silent witness to
it when it happens around you.
Treat those with HIV as you
would treat anyone else:
with respect, empathy, and
compassion. Know the facts,
know your status, and get tested
regularly.
DECEMBER 2016