By: January T. Jefferson
My awareness of HIV/AIDS came about in the late 1980s. At this time if you contracted this disease there was almost no possible way to avoid death. There were people dying left and right from AIDS. As time went on, research for a cure became the worlds number one priority. As AIDS spread throughout the United States and then the world it was leaving in it's wake a path of death and despair. People didn't know the first thing about how to take care of themselves or how to acquire the right medication to combat the symptoms they were experiencing.
Today, people living with HIV/AIDS are able to live long normal lives thanks to the amazing medical contributions. Living with HIV/AIDS does not have to be taboo in the community or anywhere for that matter. With the medications that are available today, along with a healthy lifestyle, living with this disease no longer has to be stigmatized as a death sentence. This means that not only will your health continue to be stable, but your mental health will gain an incredible amount of confidence, so people with this disease don't have to feel like they don't belong in this society.
I agree with how over the years many changes happened. Countries have found ways to help people with AIDS and people can now live longer lives. AIDS is stigmatized a lot. People associate AIDS with gay men, which is very stereotypical. Anyone can get AIDS and not know it and instead of judging them we should be helping them. Great post:)
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