Not RIght...

 

A few days ago, I posted about the 3rd case of a HIV being cured due a transplant.  This had been the 1st woman & 1st person of color.   But in only 3 cases that makes it different, not unique.  

There are articles out this morning asking HIV+ people if this makes them feel hopeful.   Some of these pieces are even pushing for the reader to get their hopes up.  There is no call for that.   This may have been the 3rd case, but it's still a fluke.  It's not seen as a controllable or safely repeatable method.  

This is a great thing for this woman.  It may help in the fight against HIV.  It won't provide a cure enmasse.   It shouldn't being touted as such.  IMO, these articles are cruel & reckless.  Maybe something will come of this someday.  For now, it's just a case of someone getting a bit of luck in a bad situation.  That's all.  

Cya...

Not Sure What To Think....

According to this article,  parts of Africa will soon have access to a top-tier HIV medication for $75 annually.  This medication contains these 3 drugs; tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine & dolutegravir.  It's called the TLD combination pill at this time.  I can't find much about it.  As far as I can tell, it's not yet available in the United States. 

Wow, that's great.  Africans will have access to a med 1 step removed from the Triumeq I take.  Instead of tenofovir, my med contains  abacavir.   Tenofovir is half of the PrEP medication Truvada.  Still, how is it Africans will get this drug for $75 annually?   When Triumeq costs over $80 daily.   That's over $2,500 monthly.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy these people will be able to afford treatment.  But why is it we're always making sure people elsewhere can afford their meds?  If I wasn't on disability I wouldn't be able to pay for my medication.   The medical system in the US is a crap-fest, but still so many  Americans focus mostly on the elsewhere.  

I guarantee you, when & if this medication gets approved in the U.S. it won't sell for an annual price of $75.   It'll be priced like everything else.  So, we get to pay for the rest of the world.    For what I pay monthly for Triumeq, 33+ people could be covered for a year on this TLD pill.  That could greatly alter the medical situation in my state.  But, it'll never happen.

Here I thought, poor, white Americans were supposed to be so privileged.  I guess that means we get the honor of footing the bill for things like this.  Yay us!  We didn't need those things anyway.

Cta...

HIV Isn't History...

This article details a pitfall in the fight against HIV.   Some people think due to the advances made in the war on AIDS, HIV has been relegated to the past.  It's done, we've beat it.  NO! We haven't.

The annual Colorado AIDS Walks is on the verge of ending due to lack of donations.  These funds go to help those living with HIV in the state.  In 1996 the walk raised 1.7 million.  As of this Saturday, the 2016 walk has raised $120,000.   That's just 7% of the earlier monies.  

This is 1 of the oldest AIDS walks & it seems destined to end this year.  Maybe they'll hold out just to round it off at 30, but tradition can only take you so far.   This event is going to end due to people's illusion HIV has been beaten.  This is why education on the matter is so crucial.

Cya...

Inappropriate Appropriation...

I came across this article today.  At 1st this odd piece intrigued me,  Then it irritated me.   It's about something called bacterial wilt.   Some gardeners have taken to calling it the "HIV" of soil.  

I get it. The disease is difficult to detect.  It's hard to manage.  It's nearly impossible to get rid of the wilt.   

Still, this article is bordering on offending me.  I get they've made a comparison to help others to understand the severity of the plant illness.  But, have we really started viewing HIV as something so banal & casual we'll use it as a descriptor for some totally unrelated situation?  

HIV is a very highly charged word, (technically acronym). It carries an immense weight & severity.  To use it lightly on such an unrelated issue is just callous & ill-advised.   

How long before some ignorant person decides this " soil HIV" that killed his crops was caused by "the gays" & drug users?  How long before that same person decides to punish someone for infecting his crops?   Accusing them of who knows what in their efforts to contaminate his fields.

HIV is a serious subject & shouldn't be used to further some other item's or group's agenda.

Cya...