How Israel stigmatizes and mistreats AIDS sufferers

[Violet_Crumble]

While AIDS sufferers in the West are treated with miracle drugs and can live normal lives, in Israel, those with the disease are stigmatized and given medicines that don't work.

By Dr. Itzhak Levi

Tomorrow is International AIDS day. Thirty years ago, in 1981, when Dr. Michael Gottlieb began working at the University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, the young doctor could not have imagined that within six months he would identify the first five patients with a disease later known as AIDS. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome quickly became an international epidemic and the disease has changed the world. Sixty million people have been infected, and 30 million of them have died.

The first AIDS medication, AZT, hit the market in 1987. Twenty years later, a combination of drugs, called a cocktail, was used to defeat the disease. Over the last decade, drugs so effective that patients achieve near normal life expectancy with a high quality of life have been available.

HIV carriers today can give birth to children who are disease-free, they can work and even serve in the armed forces, and they may enter the U.S. (One of Barack Obama's first steps as U.S. president was to remove the ban on entry for HIV carriers ).

Nevertheless, while the Western world makes vast strides forward, Israel is still treading water and in fact lagging behind.

One of medicine's aspirations is individually tailored treatment, which insures consistent use, safety and a high rate of effectiveness. While in other areas, doctors may merely dream of this, in the AIDS field today there are genetic screenings and drugs which can make the dream come true. Such treatment is of the utmost importance, because a lack of adherence to treatment protocol is highly dangerous, as it is likely to cause the virus to become drug-resistant. In order for patients to stick to their regimens, the treatment must be tolerable, and not cause difficult side effects.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/how-israel-stigmatizes-and-mistreats-aids-sufferers-1.398575?localLinksEnabled=false

[xchrom]

1. WTF!?!?! Nt

[Scurrilous]

2. Not good. n/t

[King_David]

5. Definitely not good ,important problem around the world,especially here in Australia.

Stigma and discrimination


HIV stigma and discrimination remain key barriers to dealing effectively with the HIV epidemic in Australia and around the world.

http://www.afao.org.au/what-we-do/health-promotion/current-anet-focus/stigma-and-discrimination

[Violet_Crumble]

6. Anyone who actually lives here knows that's a crock of shit...

There's no epidemic here, because on a medical level it's dealt with very effectively, and the stigma and discrimination that was rampant back in the 80's no longer happens. And if you'd bothered to read the OP before the knee started jerking, you'd have read this bit:

'In addition, while the rest of the world (including poor countries ) encourage pregnant women to have an AIDS test as government policy, our government is blind. The declared policy in Israel is that there is no need to test women who do not belong to a high-risk group. And so, every year in Israel five children are born HIV carriers whose infection could easily have been prevented.'

My advice to Americans and Canadians who like to act as though they know what they're talking about when it comes to other countries, be it Israel or Australia, is to try to educate themselves before galloping off into the sunset with feet firmly planted in the mouth.

Anyway, I see from yr posting flurry that you missed the turn into the Australia forum. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=199

Yr in the I/P forum, which while busier than there, is where stuff about Australia is welcomed and discussed. You might learn something about my country if you post there.

[King_David]

3. A research project to help end HIV stigma in Australia

The stigma of HIV is something we can live without and with your help we can make a start

The HIV Stigma Audit is a new research project from NAPWA and the National Centre in HIV Social Research at the University of New South Wales. The audit is being conducted by a web-based survey.

We would like to hear from all sorts of people with HIV about their experiences. If you are HIV positive and living in Australia you are welcome to complete the survey.

The survey only takes about 20 mins to complete, and is open to all HIV-positive people over the age of 18 living in Australia. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us understand HIV stigma and start to do something about ending it.

If you are HIV-positive, over 18 and living in Australia, please consider participating in this valuable research. For more information about the Stigma Audit, please visit www.hivstigma.net.au



http://www.glhv.org.au/node/668

[King_David]

4. STIGMA, DISCRIMINATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN HIV/AID PATIENTS (Australia)

Dr. Tauseefullah Akhund M.B.B.S, MPH (Sydney), (Australia)



Executive Summary
The HIV epidemic has created a terrible burden for millions of individuals, families and communities worldwide. Relieving the suffering requires improved healthcare, better access to the treatment, more vigorous prevention efforts, more effective social outreach and support for those most vulnerable. However, stigma and discrimination blocks the march forward against HIV/AIDS.
This project aims to address stigma and discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients and formulate strategies / procedures / policies for improved management of these ill fated people.
This project is combination of situation analysis through a scientific study to understand various dynamics of management of HIV/AIDS patients, followed by formulation of strategies / procedures based on findings of study and application of appropriate interventions at various levels. This study/project is spread over a period of two years.

http://www.welovelmc.com/diseases/hivproject.htm