War Against AIDS Still Raging After 20 Years

The events of Sept. 11 have changed our world. We are at war. However, many of us have been fighting a war for 20 years.

Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day. AIDS has been around since 1981, and we still have no cure or vaccine. We have medications, but they are expensive and have side affects, and HIV often develops resistance.

Unlike care and research, education and prevention have not had the same financial backing or organized efforts. Today, it is estimated that more than 6,700 people are infected with HIV in Orange County. And new infections continue to occur.

Prevention does work. We have seen examples of success in San Francisco, where bleach-distribution and needle-exchange programs cut the infection rate among drug users. In Uganda a concerted effort by the government helped curb the rate of increase of new infections.

Abstinence is a great concept for some, but hormones and alcohol and drugs diminish inhibitions and increase the risk of HIV.

Condoms should be thought of as “death control not birth control.” A recent study in Orange County found that 42% of sexually active respondents reported unprotected anal and/or vaginal sex in the previous six months. We need to institute a needle-exchange program. These programs have been shown to cut the risk of hepatitis C and HIV without increasing drug use. They provide an opportunity to educate, test and offer treatment programs to those who inject illicit drugs, and safe disposal of needles. Each case prevented saves an enormous amount of public and private resources in addition to the cost of lost productivity and human suffering. We have seen 20 years of death, discrimination and fear.

The allies of HIV are poverty, ignorance, homophobia, shame and mind-altering substances. I too am grieving for the people who died in the Sept. 11 attacks. I feel the pain of the mothers who have sons and daughters fighting in Afghanistan, and I mourn the millions that have died of AIDS.

Pearl Jemison Smith

Founding Board Member,

AIDS Services Foundation

Chair, AIDS Walk Orange County