The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stress how sound HIV care can save lives. According to them, more than 1.2 million people in the U.S. were living with HIV in 2011, but only 4 in 10 of them were in HIV medical care. This resulted to only 3 in 10 people living with HIV achieving viral suppression.
According to the CDC:
Viral suppression is key for people living with HIV. Viral suppression means having very low levels of HIV in the body, even though the virus is still there. Achieving viral suppression by taking HIV medicines allows people living with HIV to have nearly normal lifespans and greatly reduces their chances of transmitting the virus. While we have made progress in HIV prevention and care, only 30% of all people living with HIV have achieved viral suppression. If they are in HIV medical care, however, 76% of people achieve viral suppression. Getting and keeping people in HIV medical care saves lives.
Doctors, nurses, and health care systems can:
- Test patients for HIV as a regular part of medical care.
- Counsel patients who do not have HIV on how to prevent it.
- Make sure people living with HIV are prescribed and take HIV medicines, stay in care and get supportive services such as nutrition, housing, or mental health services.
- Work with health departments to get and keep people in HIV medical care.
Everyone can:
- Learn how to prevent HIV and take steps to protect themselves and their partners.
- Know their HIV status by getting tested .
- Get tested once a year or even more often if they are at high risk of getting HIV.
People living with HIV can:
- Get into HIV medical care as soon as possible and stay in care.
- Take HIV medicines every day to achieve viral suppression, which helps them stay healthy, live longer, and reduce their risk of transmitting the virus to others.