ANGEL MARIE A.

GALAPIN BSCSM 1A 09/13/2023

NSTP REFLECTION PAPER

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a widespread disease caused by the HIV or
Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacking the human immune system. There is no known
cure, however there are medications that can delay or stop the virus's spread. Because one
of the most common ways for the virus to spread is through unprotected sex, AIDS carries a
stigma that has kept society from discussing it freely for a long time. Unfortunately, because
most people were afraid to talk about it, there was not enough information exchanged on
how the disease spread. There is only one strategy to combat the spread of AIDS, and that is
to raise awareness. Ignorance of the reasons and techniques of HIV transmission simply
makes a bad situation worse. It is therefore critical that people understand what AIDS is,
how it spreads, and what can be done to avoid infection. Governments and non-profit
organizations have implemented a variety of programs not just to conduct health screenings
but also to eradicate the stigma that surrounds this condition and individuals who suffer
from it. For years, public awareness campaigns have shared knowledge about HIV and how
to prevent it, and their efforts have paid off. The outcomes speak for themselves. To prevent
people from becoming complacent and forgetting that AIDS is still very much a player in the
deadly diseases field, various awareness initiatives have been implemented. There is
currently no cure for AIDS or HIV. Because HIV is a retrovirus that replicates by replacing the
host cell's DNA with copies of its own DNA, anti-retro-viral therapy (ART) is the most
effective strategy to prevent its transmission. This is a medication that prevents the virus
from multiplying, delaying or stopping its progression. It is important to begin treatment in
the early stages of infection so that the immune system is not compromised. Later on, this
treatment can be coupled with drugs that treat secondary diseases that the patient may
have contracted as a result of decreased immunity.