By DR LATONYA RIDDLE-JONES |November 29, 2021 at 7:37 a.m. | The Oakland Press
As we approach World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, it brings more than the usual commemorations and displays of red ribbons. Those who are leading the fight against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, are seeing major strides — from declining death rates to more acceptance of individuals living with HIV and improved medications for treatment and prevention — and there is genuine reason to believe that an end to the HIV epidemic can be achieved after decades of heartbreak and lives lost.
Ending HIV stigma
When Corktown Health’s founding organization HELP (Health Emergency Lifeline Programs) was formed more than 30 years ago, HIV seemed an almost-immediate death sentence. At that time, we offered end-of-life services, providing nutritional and emotional support for patients when nobody else would. With so many questions about HIV, people were scared, and many with HIV chose not to inform their family members. We were often the only people with them at the end of their lives. Click Here To Read The Full Article