Newspaper Review 2

Date: Monday, 1 Dec 2008
Title: Time to treat HIV like other disease
Section: The Straits Times-- Prime A2

Summary:

"Sufferers also deserve subsidies on drugs that help them live normally"

More than two decades ago, the first acquired immune deficiency syndrome(Aids) was diagnosed. Since then, close to 4000 people have been diagnosed as infected with the human immunodeficiency virus(HIV), the precursor to Aids. In spite of all that has been done to contain its spread, the number of new infections grows each year. Early treatment can provide HIV patients with an almost normal lifespan and they can contribute to society. Most importantly, they can expect to lead a fairly normal and active life-- provided they have access to the anti-retroviral medicines that can keep the virus at bay, and prevent them from acquiring full-blown Aids. However, the problem is the high price of the medicine. The $1500 a month needed to pay for the cocktail of drugs many need is more than what three in four HIV patients can afford, yet there is no Government subsidy at all for the treatment of HIV here. There are many reasons for this, but maybe the main reason is the underlying belief that people with HIV have only themselves to blame as it is transmitter via bodily fluids, usually through sexual intercourse. Many HIV patients tend to take cheap and fake medicines from other countries and although they are putting their lives at risk, the prohibitive cost of the drugs here leaves them with no other choice.

Reflection:

Nowadays, after learning that one person is a HIV patient, many people would straight away think about something like "Oh my god, that person is having casual sex." etc. However, I think that most people had wrong ideas about HIV patients as not everyone who gets HIV has lead a promiscuous life. More numbers of men are passing on the infection, which they may caught from prostitutes, on to their wives and children and there are about 40 innocent children and youth with HIV. Therefore, I feel that the Government should allow subsidies for HIV medications as if HIV is treated early, HIV patients could still lead a normal life. Some people may think that the society is not obliged to help people who lead such an unhealthy lifestyle, but if that's the case, subsidies for treatment of lung cancer and liver problems should also be removed, because these problems are also caused by unhealthy lifestyles and habits. We should treat HIV/Aids sufferers like all other citizens by giving them the same right to basic medical care and not discriminating against them.

YingLing