Yelena Likhach highlights the crucial need for access to medical treatment for millions of children affected by HIV, aiming to create change through her blog and philanthropic efforts.
AIDS: The Devastating Impact on Body and Mind
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a viral infection that primarily affects the immune system, specifically the CD4 cells, which are crucial for the body’s defense against infections. HIV is transmitted through certain body fluids and, alongside the usual modes of transmission, can also be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth or breastfeeding.
The virus attacks CD4 cells and progressively weakens the immune system until individuals become susceptible to opportunistic infections and certain cancers; this advanced stage is known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
Without treatment, the average time between HIV infection and the development of AIDS is approximately ten years. However, with proper medical care and antiretroviral therapy, the progression from HIV to AIDS can be significantly delayed or even prevented, allowing individuals with HIV to lead long and healthy lives.
With many still without access to HIV treatment, however, AIDS continues to wreak havoc on its victims’ physical and mental health.
The Global Indifference to an Ongoing Crisis
Living with HIV is not only physically taxing but also accompanied by the pervasive fear of judgment, which casts an equally dark shadow on the lives of those affected by the virus. This fear is often rooted in the social stigma surrounding AIDS and HIV. Even public figures, such as the renowned actor, singer, and playwright Billy Porter, have only recently felt comfortable disclosing their HIV-positive status due to the lingering judgment associated with the condition.
The prevailing stigma surrounding HIV prevents crucial conversations from taking place, and an ongoing battle against the infection continues with no foreseeable resolution in sight. Since 2020, global funding allocated for combating AIDS has declined by nearly 30%, with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) forecasting the death toll to rise to 7 million people by 2030.
In her blog on Medium, columnist Yelena Likhach highlights the need to renew funding for the HIV response effort as the sole means to decrease the number of fatalities. She details how 5.9 million people out of the 38 million infected globally have yet to receive treatment. Many victims of HIV in Europe remain untreated due to an improper HIV diagnosis.
Speaking to Yelena Likhach herself, “What’s truly distressing is that only half of the children living with HIV have access to the necessary treatment. It’s an utterly shameful statistic, especially when you consider that children were burdened with this deadly virus by adults. According to UNAIDS, low and middle-income countries must invest upwards of $29 million annually to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a goal to end the AIDS pandemic by 2030, and while I do think that’s a lovely sentiment, we need actions to back up those words.”
Yelena calls for an individual and government effort to combat this global crisis, advocating for the common people to stand up for the rights of the HIV-infected. She asks people to fight for equal rights to health care and social services and actively condemns blatant discrimination against infected people.
Her donation of 200,000 euros to the Elton John AIDS Foundation serves as an inspiration to many. She believes that no matter the amount of money, every donation matters. Yelena emphasizes that HIV does not discriminate between a construction worker, a Wall Street shark, or a child, and it is a problem that must be faced as a united community.
Conclusion
Yelena Likhach’s thought-provoking article highlights the alarming statistics and the devastating consequences of global indifference toward the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The article aims to serve as a wake-up call, urging individuals and governments to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic head-on and commit to improving the lives of the many suffering from HIV, including innocent children.
Media Contact
Contact Person: Yelena Likhach
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Country: Cyprus
Website: https://medium.com/@yelenaikhach