Could the Fight Against HIV/AIDS be Almost Over?

Photo courtesty of Flickr user Ton Rulkens

Since the first report of AIDS in the United States 30 years ago, the disease has spread rapidly throughout the United States and the world. As time has lapsed and the understanding of the disease has progressed, science and technology has progressed with it. Drugs have been developed to allow HIV positive mothers to give birth to  HIV negative babies and additional drugs that permit mothers to breastfeed without transmitting the disease.

According to a post on USA TODAY College, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will launch a program at drugstores across the nation that offers free HIV testing. This would make testing more accessible to both college and local members of the community.

 
Last week, field experts, policymakers, and activists who support the ending of the pandemic gathered together at the International AIDS Conference held in Washington, D.C. This year’s conference proved to be promising with the new medical and research advancements.The conference, which began on a Sunday, was the world’s largest International AIDS Conference. Thousands of people met at the Convention Center to continue their exchange of ideas on prevention, treatment and care for those with HIV or AIDS.

In recent times, The US FDA has approved a drug called Truvada, an HIV prevention drug that has been in development for some time now. The appearance of new drugs is of course a good indication.  According to AIDS.gov, President Obama sent his fiscal year 2013 budget proposal that renews his commitment to ending the AIDS pandemic by putting the National HIV/AIDS Strategy in to action.

The search for an efficient HIV vaccine could possibly be one of the utmost scientific challenges of our time. With a disease that reaches all generations, it’s vital that a cure is discovered. There have been many great discoveries and failures along the way, but doctors, scientists and researchers continue to search.