A longer version of this diary was posted at Immizen.com by my blogger friend Neil:
This Sunday, May 20th, 2012, help us dispel the myth that HIV/AIDS equals death. My partner and I will participate in the Florida AIDS Walk 2012, a fundraiser for local organizations dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare services, educational support and peace of mind for humans living with and affected by HIV/AIDS regardless of their ability to pay.
According to the CDC, only 1 in 4 HIV infected Americans receive adequate medical care to control the disease because they lack resources or don't know they are infected. Lack of care leads to negative consequences—more infections, more deaths and greater healthcare costs absorbed by the rest of us. Despite the lack of medical care for many HIV infected people living in the United States, the drugs work. The BBC reported that antiretroviral therapies have extended lifespans by 15 years. In addition, a recent study shows that early treatment with antiretroviral drugs can stop transmission of the virus between partners, thereby limiting the spread of the disease and the financial impact on the healthcare system.
“In a large randomized trial involving more than 1,700 heterosexual couples — in which one person was HIV-positive and the other was not — infected people who took the anti-HIV drugs reduced their risk of transmitting the virus to their partners by 96%, compared with those who did not immediately start treatment.” (Time Magazine) Furthermore, CNN.com reports that South Florida has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the nation.
The United States of America does not have universal healthcare and the political party that fought to prevent Obamacare continues to fight for its repeal. The Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of Obamacare soon which may fundamentally reshape healthcare in this country. So, elections matter, but what matters most is knowledge and understanding. One goal of the Florida AIDS Walk is transmit knowledge and understanding to high-risk communities and to the general public—a public that is often too afraid to face the positive and negative implications of HIV/AIDS.
Its' been almost 10 years since one of my closest friends died from the disease. When I was 19, my first boyfriend/crush also died from an AIDS-related complication. I didn't know he was HIV-positive until after his death. He kept me safe, but the stigma of HIV/AIDS probably influenced his decision to tell me about his status. But, I will never know.
Florida AIDS Walk 2012 is more than just a fundraiser. It's a group hug, an expression of love and acceptance for people who have been and continue to be dehumanized and devalued by a culture that still lives in fear and denial of HIV/AIDS. Regardless of your political affiliation, the health and well-being of neighbor has a direct and indirect impact on our lives. Help me raise funds for organizations that provide some basic healthcare services, counseling, education, support, peace of mind and that all too important group hug for people living with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS.
Some of the organizations that will benefit: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, SunServ, The Center for Positive Connections among others.
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