Remembering 25 Years: World AIDS Day Dec. 1

  • Published
  • By Maj. (Dr.) Vincent Marconi
  • 59th Medical Wing
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  As we recount the last two and a half decades that the world has witnessed the destructive force of HIV/AIDS, we are reminded of unimaginable pain and suffering, but also of tremendous goodwill and the triumph of the human spirit.

World AIDS Day will be held around the globe Dec. 1. This year's theme is "Accountability."

We must ask ourselves 'what is my responsibility as a member of a global society?' and 'what can I do to help?'

Since its first description in 1981, HIV has become one of the deadliest epidemics in human history, killing more than 25 million people around the world, including more than 500,000 Americans.

In the U.S., nearly 40,000 people still become infected with HIV every year, and many of these are under the age of 25. This disease does not discriminate; it affects everyone, old and young, rich and poor.

It also has affected our servicemembers and their beneficiaries with more than 1,400 infected in the Air Force alone and nearly 5,000 among all three branches of the military. Nearly half of these individuals have died from their infection, most often in silence.

Through the pain and the loss of so many loved ones from this disease, we have experienced incredible displays of courage, compassion and selflessness from those who have been infected and from those who have cared for individuals sick and dying with AIDS.

We also have witnessed a monumental effort by health care people, clinicians, scientists, humanitarian workers and philanthropists to combat this disease by every
means available.

To examine the scientific achievements in particular is to appreciate an unprecedented accomplishment of medical research. These achievements were the result of worldwide collaboration and cooperation. These findings permitted the rapid identification of the causative virus (HIV) and also allowed scientists to understand how it causes harm.

Prevention and testing programs were developed which reduced and interrupted spread from person to person. Twenty nine medications have been developed and proven effective against the HIV and while treatment once required 30 pills a day, now only one pill daily is needed.

However, the fight is far from over. We do not yet have a cure or a vaccine for HIV/AIDS. Prevention remains the only cure for the moment and we still do not do this very well.

Today we reflect on a disease that devastates entire societies, leaving more than 15 million orphans in its wake. These children will grow up without parents to give them affection, teach them values or how to care for others.

Aside from being a destructive force in itself, HIV/AIDS has particularly devastated resource-limited regions of the world, reducing the average life span by 30 years in some countries. It eventually will destabilize governments by eliminating the capacity of entire nations to sustain themselves economically.

How will we reflect upon the next 25 years? Will we say that we halted this disease from eliminating an entire generation in Africa? Will we remind ourselves of how the subcontinent of India was brought to the brink of disaster only to be diverted by a worldwide effort to prevent and treat infections? Or will we bear the burden for so many lost lives that could have been saved?