Folks just to update.
Getting infected with HIV is not a death sentence in that it can be
controlled.
Unfortunately, there are many medications to take and comes up to
thousands of dollars a month - equal to dialysis treatments
probably.
When I was in Medical residency in the US in early 2001, there were
many patients suffering the complications of HIV infection which is
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, particularly opportunistic
infections - PCP, Toxoplasma, etc. all fairly easily controlled
with antibiotic prophylaxis.
With the advent of HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy), I
saw the number of such cases fall rapidly over 3 years.
The medical center I worked in was a major NIH-funded HIV research
center. Most patients will have medications funded by private
health insurance, medicare, or medicaid (for very poor or
disabled). Also, because it was a major research center, many drugs
companies would be performing clinical trials and thus, many
medications would be funded through them. Therefore, there was
NO-ONE who had HIV infection who could not get treatment!!!
That aside, EDUCATION on unprotected sex, barrier methods of
contraception are needed to halt the spread of disease.
Also, better funding of HIV treatment is required, with better
health insurance coverage or funding sources so that Singaporean
patients can also enjoy medical care that equals those enjoyed by
citizens of other industrialized societies. Once the drug companies
know that there's money to be made (ie, people will pay for
treatment); more money gets poured into research, and then more
gets funded for studies, especially in Singapore, and ultimately,
Singaporeans benefit.
