Embracing Hope and Action on World AIDS Day

Aids, the name is enough to strike fear into people's hearts. It continues to be a mounting concern, claiming numerous lives every year. Despite the advancement in the diagnosis or treatment, the virus persists as a significant threat that needs the right education, awareness, and action to address this ongoing challenge, ensuring a future where the impact of AIDS diminishes, sparing countless lives from its grasp. With this thought, every year, December 1st is observed as World Aids Day. The day serves as a poignant reminder of both the progress made and challenges that persist in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Navigating the Current Reality

As per the National Institute Of Health (NIH), in India, the first HIV infection was detected in 1986, and today, India has an estimated 5.134 million HIV infections, home to the second-largest number of people living with HIV and AIDS. Furthermore, as per the stats of the World Bank, of all HIV infections, 39% are among women. Let's dig deeper to understand more about this threat to human health.

Unveiling HIV/AIDS: Understand The Challenge

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a complex infection that first targets the immune system, gradually weakening its defense. Over time, if left untreated or unaddressed, HIV progresses to AIDS. Short for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, AIDS refers to a stage where immune health is severely compromised, leading to susceptibility to infections and disease.

Manifest With Mild Symptoms And Often Go Unnoticed

The challenge with HIV is that in the very early stage, it causes mild symptoms, often mistaken for flu-ailments. It can remain asymptomatic for years and increases gradually within the body until the severe stage, underscoring the significance of regular testing. As the virus progresses to AIDS, its symptoms intensify, affecting various bodily functions. Identifying abnormalities early and acting on time is the only key to saving many lives.

Embracing the Imperative for Change:

Prevention stays the cornerstone in the fight against HIV/AIDS. But to prevent this, being aware of the condition and your status is essential. This is the sad reality that approx 77% of people living with HIV are aware of their status of HIV, the rest do not have HIV, and only 65% of all were initiated on ART therapy.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no cure for HIV infection. Still, with access to timely diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and care, it becomes possible to manage this chronic condition, enabling people with HIV to lead long and healthy lives.

Charting a New Path:

While the road to recovery and treatment may seem challenging, the strides made in research, treatment, and prevention offer hope. Organizations including WHO, the Global Fun & UNAIDS have global HIV strategies aligned with the SDG to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.

95-95-95- The number 95 holds the road map to end HIV:

As per the WHO studies, by 2025, the target of 95-95-95 can make a difference in the fight against HIV. The aim is that by the year 2025, 95% of all people infected with HIV should have a diagnosis and know their status, and those should be taking life-saving antiretroviral treatment (ART). Lastly, 95% of those on ART treatment should attain a suppressed viral load to improve health and reduce onward HIV transmission.

The 95-95-95 target is very much achievable, as according to WHO reports, in 2022, of all living with HIV, 85% were aware of their status, 76% were receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 71% had suppressed viral loads.

Preventive Measures That Can Pave The Path To Better Management And Lesser Cases

• Encourage Safe Practices: Indulging in safe intercourse is crucial to reduce the risk of HIV transmission significantly. Besides, avoid sharing needles or equipment used for injecting medicines, as it can transmit the infection.
• Educate Yourself & Spread Awareness: Awareness is the first step that can help in the fight against it. Therefore, educating oneself and others with the right and only authentic knowledge of HIV/AIDS helps in reducing stigma and creating an AIDS-free world.
• Say Yes To Routine Testing And Timely Treatment: Since HIV stays within the body for years without any signs or symptoms, it is essential to consider regular health checkups. Routine HIV Screening is a game-changer, especially for individuals at high risk. Regular screening allows early diagnosis and ensures timely access to better treatment and care, improving health and reducing transmission rates.
• Take Medication Seriously: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a cornerstone of HIV treatment, and adhering to the prescribed medicine is essential to effectively suppress the virus, ensuring better living with the disease.

Empower Change For Managing HIV/AIDS

World AIDS Day allows us all to step in a change in the community, urging individuals, governments, and people to make informed decisions. The year's theme is "Let Communities Lead," which underscores the significance of empowering communities to drive change, influence policies, and take initiatives that prioritize prevention, treatment, and support. Remember, the road ahead requires collective efforts. Building a robust healthcare system, strengthening community support, and fostering exclusivity are integral to achieving this goal.

The Role Of Redcliffe Labs

Early diagnosis ensures better management of HIV, and Redcliffe Labs is the most trusted partner for diagnostic tests. We offer a range of HIV Screening Tests, including:

• HIV Early Screen Test: The test aims to help detect HIV infection when it is at an early stage. It identifies antibodies produced by the body in response to HIV, helping one obtain HIV status early, enabling timely treatment, and necessary steps to manage conditions and prevent transmission.
• HIV 1 Viral Load Test: The test determines the quantity of HIV RNA in the blood to measure the level of active virus replication in the blood. However, its primary purpose is to monitor the progress of HIV infection & check the effectiveness of ART (Antiretroviral therapy), allowing healthcare practitioners to make adjustments to medications if necessary.
• HIV 1&2 Antibodies Test by CMIA Method: The test checks antibodies produced by the body in response to HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections to determine whether someone has been exposed to HIV. It helps in diagnosing HIV infections and guiding healthcare providers in providing appropriate treatment.
• HIV 1 Genotypic Resistance Test: It is a special test that helps identify specific mutations or changes in the genetic material of the HIV-1 virus, allowing healthcare providers to determine the suitable antiretroviral drug to control the infection. The test enables tailoring the treatment based on their specific viral mutations and prevents the development of drug resistance.

Besides this, we provide routine health checkups that aim to assess abnormalities, if any, at an early stage, allowing timely intervention. To build a Healthier Bharat, we bring diagnostics to your doorstep. Quality, accessibility, convenience, and affordability are the four major pillars of our company, allowing us to offer the best experience to our customers.

You can schedule HIV Screening as suggested by your healthcare practitioner with us from the website in just 1 minute, and a trained phlebotomist will be at your doorstep to collect the sample. We aim to bring the screening to every door possible so no one is left undiagnosed and more and more people take charge of their health.

Yes You Can - Powering People With Our Powerful Campaign

It is a call for all to stand against the challenges of HIV/AIDS and make the observance of World AIDS Day successful. The Yes, You Can campaign amplifies the message of hope, resilience, and collective action. So, let's join hands in the fight against HIV/AIDS and create a world where HIV/AIDS no longer holds sway over lives.