Saturday was the 30th World Aids Day, which the Jackson County Health Department honored with a 5K Santas in Speedos and Bras run. The event invited people to come run dressed as Santa or to brave the cold and sport their speedos and bras.
While the run was a festive event, it also highlighted the department’s work on a very serious issue - helping to prevent HIV in the community by helping patients access a pill that can prevent HIV.
Known as PrEP, it’s a daily bill that can prevent transmission of HIV. The pill can benefit many people, and it’s an important step forward in helping prevent the transmission of HIV.
WORLD AIDS DAY
World AIDS Day began in 1988, 7 years after the first appearance of the disease. What began as a mysterious illness that swept through the gay community and intravenous drug users would eventually become known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in 1982. HIV wouldn’t be identified as the virus causing AIDS until 1984.
Between the first appearance of the disease in 1981 and the first World AIDs Day in 1988, the disease infected between 5 and 10 million people worldwide.
At the time, HIV and AIDS were a death sentence. The first antiretroviral treatment for HIV wasn’t approved until 1987. By that point, over 2,000 people had died in the U.S. alone.
The introduction of antiretrovirals has allowed many people with HIV/AIDS to live a full life. As of 2015, the CDC reports that approximately 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV or AIDS.
Yet, the spread of HIV is still a health crisis worldwide. Anyone who uses IV drugs or has unprotected sex with a partner whose HIV status is unknown is at risk for contracting the virus.
PREVENTING HIV
Until 2012, condoms were the only available method to prevent the spread of HIV.
“It’s really exciting to have something to offer other than condoms, on the prevention end of things,” said Kathy O’Laughlin, a program coordinator with the Jackson County Health Department.
Sold under the brand name Truvada, PrEP is a pill taken daily to prevent contracting HIV. The pill does require an initial physical exam, as well as regular blood tests. But it is reported to have few side effects.
“PrEP is a good option for anyone who wants protection from HIV for whatever reason,” O’Laughlin said.
That includes anyone who has an HIV positive partner, does not know their partner’s HIV status, or uses injection drugs.
Anyone who is interested in PrEP can contact the Jackson County health department for more information.
