30 Years of AIDS

The Federal Government and 30 Years of AIDS

On June 5, 1981, the Centers for Disease Control’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) described the first reported cases of AIDS in the US.  Thirty years later, AIDS.gov is observing this date with a campaign called “The Federal Government and 30 Years of AIDS.”

What have we learned about Human Immunodefiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the last three decades? And how well are we doing as a country with HIV/AIDS education, screening, treatment and research?  Hear answers from the country’s top experts during a live webcast today, June 1, at 3:00 p.m. EDT.

Sponsored by AIDS.gov (who has a guest profile at PatientsLikeMe) and the White House, this live video chat features Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy Jeffrey Crowley, and Director of the Division of AIDS at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Dr. Carl Dieffenbach. To join in, submit questions in advance, watch live at WhiteHouse.gov/live and submit live questions during the discussion on Facebook.

Here at PatientsLikeMe, we have 2,948 members who report living with HIV. Beyond what they share on their individual patient profiles about their symptoms, treatments and quality of life, they also offer their perspectives in our forum, where common topics include the psychological aspects of being HIV+ and how to approach dating post-diagnosis. What can you learn from other patients? One example is what to expect. More than 290 of our members have been diagnosed with HIV for 20 years or more, showing that living with HIV long-term is now possible.

Check out the video below featuring a member who’s lived with HIV for 25+ years.  Now with more than 35,000+ views on YouTube, this candid interview reveals how HIV awareness has evolved and how helpful it is for long-term survivors to be able to connect with others like them.

Finally, there’s a key takeaway from “30 Years of AIDS” that impacts us all: the importance of getting tested now that HIV tests (some with results in as short as 20 minutes) are readily available. According to the Centers for Disease Control, of the estimated one million people living with HIV in the US, one in five (21%) are unaware of their infection. Have you been tested recently? If not, June 27, 2011, is National HIV Testing Day. Use this handy locator to find a screening facility near you.

If you’re older than 30, AIDS came about in your lifetime. If you’re younger than 30, you’ve only known a world with AIDS. What has that meant for you – and for your generation? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

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  1. Pingback: The Value of Openness: The PatientsLikeMe Blog » It’s National HIV Testing Day

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