Is the advent of ARVs a cause for the spread of AIDS

Sep 28, 2009

HIV/AIDS is no longer viewed as a death threat. This is indeed one of the drivers of the problem. This can be attributed to the advent of ARVs. We no longer see as many people suffering from diarrhoea as used to be the case in the past.

Face HIV/AIDS
Dear Doctor,
I have observed that the outward good health of people living with HIV/AIDS has tempted those who are not infected to live recklessly. Is it right to assume that the good health and availability of ARVs is responsible for the rise in new infections?
Faith

HIV/AIDS is no longer viewed as a death threat. This is indeed one of the drivers of the problem. This can be attributed to the advent of ARVs. We no longer see as many people suffering from diarrhoea as used to be the case in the past.

We certainly do not want to go back to the pre-ART era so that people begin to fear the disease, but we need to keep sensitising the public. There are very many people out there who do not look sick but have HIV.

Many of our children born with or infected with HIV during their infancy have come of age and may be sexually active.

We need to abandon the thinking that people who have HIV lived recklessly or were irresponsible. This just serves to increase stigma and drives many people into denial.

People get infected with HIV when they are exposed to the virus through any unsafe practice.

For instance some are rape while others are born to an HIV positive mother while some contract the virus from unfaithful partners.

Write to health@newvision.co.ug

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