untitled design

People with HIV still struggle against prejudice and social stigma

Brazil has 213 million inhabitants, according to IBGE data, and, according to the Ministry of Health, nearly 1 million are living with HIV. One of them is Sandra Asa Branca, a retiree who found out she was HIV positive in 2002.

“I had a boyfriend, who I dated for three years. And it was he who infected me, and everything indicates that he knew he was contaminated.”

Carolina Iara, co-dealer in São Paulo, is another person who also became infected within a relationship. According to her, this issue was difficult to deal with.

“(…) It took a while for me to accept the chronic condition of HIV, and it took me a while to stop blaming myself.”

The virus has been circulating for 40 years, and a long path covered by science so far has brought advances that allow anyone with HIV to live peacefully.

With up-to-date treatment, the virus becomes undetectable, that is, it will not be transmitted through sexual intercourse, and the person will not develop AIDS either.

HIV vaccine and cure

Currently, drugs and treatments have advanced in the treatment of HIV and ensure a better quality of life for people living with the virus.

The next step for science is the ultimate cure, which could happen soon, in two and a half years. And the main responsible for this may be the Mosaico research, which tests a vaccine against HIV.

In total, there are 3,800 volunteers around the world, including Brazil. Hospital Emílio Ribas, in São Paulo, is one of the study centers.

“(…) When tested on animals, it was 67% effective in preventing sexual transmission of the virus. If we prove this similar efficacy in humans at the end of this phase, we can then see the possibility of translating this research into public policy and, finally, find a vaccine that prevents the transmission of the HIV virus”, said Bernardo Porto Maia , infectologist.

Other studies try to end AIDS once and for all. An unprecedented research by the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) tests a treatment that uses drugs and substances that kill the virus in the body and eliminate the cells in which the virus remains dormant.

“Probably in March, April, we will start recruiting 60 patients to use a type of treatment that worked in our first phase of the study, thus expanding the number of candidates in which we will combine all the strategies I mentioned earlier , which are: the intensification of treatment, drugs to cut the virus, kill the cell, and cell therapy to improve the person’s immunity… We interrupt the treatment of these people and observe whether the virus will return or not”, said Ricardo Sobhie Diaz, research coordinator, infectious disease physician.

Prejudice and discrimination

Despite the optimistic news, a problem is still present in the lives of people living with HIV: prejudice.

“I suffered a lot of name calling, a lot of attack message that used HIV to say that I didn’t deserve to be elected, to be a councilor. That I was a dirty, filthy person”, said the co-dealer.

“I know people around me who don’t drink from my glass. Except that, like that, I’m also a person who doesn’t expect to see the other person’s reaction. I don’t offer my cup to anyone. I prefer not to run the risk of seeing prejudice”, said Sandra.

HIV does not choose gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or age.

Free prevention by SUS

Methods that help prevent contagion, such as condoms and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medications, are distributed free of charge by the Unified Health System (SUS).

SUS also distributes a self-test so that people can do it at home and know the result. A simple saliva collection with a swab is enough to know the result in a few minutes.

Unfortunately, it is estimated that 135,000 Brazilians live with HIV and still do not know it, many for fear of taking the test and discovering the virus.

In case of doubts, take the test, and if it is positive, immediately seek treatment.

Reference: CNN Brasil

You may also like

Get the latest

Stay Informed: Get the Latest Updates and Insights

 

Most popular