Education still critical in HIV/AIDS fight

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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HIV isn't the automatic death sentence it was when the first case in Iowa was diagnosed in 1981.

Medical breakthroughs and early treatments have made it possible for many people living with HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS, to lead healthy lives with normal life expectancies.

But such a good outcome is far from guaranteed. In fact, medical experts say nearly 50 percent of HIV-positive Iowans don't get tested for the virus until they've already started exhibiting symptoms of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. That delay can take 10 to 30 years off the patient's life.

Why would Iowans avoid testing and early treatment? Stigma and fear, advocates say. Even now.

Despite decades of public education, many Iowans still are ignorant of or denying the facts concerning HIV and AIDS.

If we are to ever hope of eradicating HIV and AIDS, Iowa must redouble education and awareness efforts, fighting not only the virus, but also the ignorance and misinformation that allows it to continue to spread - putting more lives at risk.

Today's antiretroviral medications do much to suppress the virus, making it possible for many HIV-positive people - including the nearly 1,800 Iowans known to be living with HIV - to live productive lives.

Yet, several HIV-positive Iowans and medical providers recently told The Gazette that many Iowans' understanding of HIV and AIDS is no better than it was during the height of the AIDS epidemic a generation ago.

Some people believe public understanding of HIV and AIDS is worsening in recent years.

HIV can't be spread through hugging, kissing, shaking hands or touching common objects - all myths doctors still say they hear from people who, by now, should know better.

The virus doesn't discriminate - infecting people regardless of age, race, gender or sexual orientation - another lesson experts say not everyone has learned.

It may be that we've become complacent as treatments have improved and infection rates have dropped. As long as new cases of HIV are diagnosed every year, we must make sure that Iowans, including young people, know the facts.

That's why it's important to support efforts such as those of the newly formed Sexual Health Alliance Coalition of Linn and Johnson Counties, representing 30 organizations.

Among the coalition's major goals are to lesson the stigma and increase local people's understanding of sexual health and disease - including HIV and AIDS.

That work is as critical now as it was a generation ago - and so it will stay until HIV and AIDS have been wiped clean off the map.

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