Example Of HIV/AIDS Essay

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Despite the rise of modern medicine, and the rapid pace with which we are approaching new medications and cures to devastating diseases, HIV and AIDS still seemingly continues to elude us. Daily statistics and reports on the news would have us believe that the HIV and AIDS epidemics of Africa and India were not only unavoidable, but also unstoppable. It is seldom that information beyond the deaths caused by the autoimmune disease is given to the public. Information such as funding initiatives, both public and private, where that money goes, and how it helps is important. Quality of care initiatives are implemented, but not in detail, especially in third world countries. Furthermore, health coverage and its impact on an individual with HIV or AIDS are somehow never mentioned in media coverage of the disease. However, all of these things are crucial to fighting HIV/AIDS, and saving lives.

Funding Initiative

Funding initiatives have not always been at the forefront of the public’s mind for HIV/AIDS, as they appear to be today. When the epidemic first became aggressive in the states during the 1980’s, the world finally took notice of its seriousness, but were reluctant to help . They stereotyped infected individuals, convinced for a time that only homosexual males could contract the disease. Still, in the past, public and private funding efforts were made. They were often small, typically never accumulating more than twenty or thirty thousand dollars . As time went on and the disease spread to those outside the stereotyped groups, the world was forced to take notice. Funding became more public. Both private and public funding efforts became stronger and began to raise more money. Today, according to, “Funding Mechanisms for Civil Society: The Experience of the AIDS Response,” public benefits including concerts, art galas, and auctions are held to raise money to help those who are impacted by the disease . Private organizations, such as the RED and the Global Fund to Fight Aids also continue to raise money for those impacted and to find a cure .

Quality Initiatives

Quality initiatives, as stated in, “Strengthening the Quality Agenda in Health Care in Low and Middle Income Countries: Questions to Consider,” build upon already existing care . Therefore, the past quality initiative related to the fight against HIV and AIDS was poor because there had been no response to it. The initial reaction to the disease was that one contracted it by being homosexual, being unclean, or being raped . Minority communities formed outreach programs in order to help their own, in turn creating the first public quality initiative programs. Profitable private quality initiative addressing HIV/AIDS did not appear until the disease began affecting individuals outside of minority communities. When others, outside of the normal stereotypes became infected, others began to take notice and began building on the quality initiative laid by those before them. Today, there are many public and private organizations, such as RED, the Magic Johnson Foundation, the Clinton Initiative, UNAIDS, the AIDS Institute, and many others like it that offer various forms of support to those impacted by HIV/AIDS all over the world.

Insured v. Uninsured

Unfortunately, as it is with all medical conditions, being insured can drastically effect one’s outcome when contracting HIV/AIDS. When the virus first began to spread at an alarming rate, for example, it was not included on many insurance policies and, according to, “Health Insurance Coverage for Persons in HIV Care, 2006-2012,” was only covered for those who had catastrophe coverage . Today, certain companies offer specific policies for HIV/AIDs healthcare, while other companies allow it to be covered under blanket policies. Regardless, having insurance increases the chances of survival by ten to fifty years, depending on the individual’s age, previous health, the disease’s progression, and the individual’s commitment to treatment . Those today who are not insured are at the whim of the public health system. Many do not receive treatment until it is too late, or they do not receive treatment at all. Seventy-five percent of individuals who do not have insurance and contract the disease die within five to ten years of diagnosis . Prior to 1995 individuals died typically within three years of diagnosis if they were uninsured .
The U.S. v. Countries with Universal Health Coverage
The type of health coverage also affects the outcome for individuals surviving with HIV/AIDS. Not having insurance puts the individual at an immediate disadvantage. Many insurance policies in the United States and other countries offer policies that provide cheaper treatments and medication. However, countries that offer universal healthcare, such as Switzerland and Canada, see the most significant rate of survival, as well as the lowest rates of HIV/AIDS. Not only are individuals who contract the disease immediately put on treatment, granting them the best possible chance for survival, but also they are better educated, and given the proper tools to avoid contracting the disease at all, unlike countries such as America and Africa .
In sum, living with HIV/AIDS has been and still is a struggle. There have been many attempts, both privately and publically, to raise funds in order to benefit those affected by the disease. The quality care initiative began with minority communities who were first hit hardest by the disease. Eventually, as the disease spread to other communities, the care initiative was able to grow. Unfortunately, initiatives concerning insurance are not effective in every country, and people die every year when they do not need to. More countries should work toward universal healthcare in order to save more lives and prevent more people from contracting the disease.

References

Bonnel, R., Rodriguez-Gracia, R., Olivier, J., Wodon, Q., McPherson, W., Orr, K., & Ross, J. (2013). Funding Mechanisms for Civil Society: The Experience of the AIDS Response. Sacramento: World Bank Publications.
Ruelas, E., Gomez-Dante, O., Leatherman, S., Fortune, T., & Gay-Molina, J. G. (2013). Strengthening the quality agenda in health care in low- and middle-income countries: questions to consider. International Journal for the Quality of Care, 24, (6). 56-64.
Yehia, B. R., Fleishman, J. A., Agwu, A. L., Metlay, J. P., Berry, S. A., & Gebo, K. A. (2014). Health Insurance Coverage for Persons in HIV Care, 2006–2012. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 67, (1). 102-106.