Forty-five years ago this month, the first cases of what would become the AIDS epidemic were reported in the United States. An HIV diagnosis back then often came with fear, uncertainty and stigma, and many people were left to rely on one another while pushing for research, treatment and recognition.
Pride is an opportunity to celebrate that history and acknowledge how much has changed because people refused to accept the status quo.
Today, people living with HIV can expect long, healthy lives. PrEP can reduce the risk of transmission by up to 99 percent when taken correctly; medications allow people living with HIV to achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load, and long-acting injectable options for both prevention and treatment have expanded the choices available to patients.
Those advances have changed lives. But they have not eliminated HIV.
An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and nearly one in four are women. Nationally, the prevalence rate is 395 people per 100,000. In Dallas County, it is 834 per 100,000, more than double the national average and one of the highest rates in Texas. Those statistics represent our neighbors, coworkers, family members and friends.
At Prism Health North Texas, we care for one of the largest populations of people living with HIV in the country. We see patients who remember when treatment options were limited and others who have never known a world without effective HIV medications. That perspective is a reminder of how much medicine has changed in a relatively short time.
Long-acting injectable PrEP and HIV treatment are good examples. For some patients, replacing a daily pill with an injection every few months removes a major barrier to staying protected or remaining on treatment. These therapies are available here at our health centers and are already improving the way many people manage their health.
Access, however, remains uneven. Some people delay testing because they are afraid of the result. Others postpone appointments because of cost, transportation, insurance challenges, or concerns about whether they will be welcomed and respected by a healthcare provider. Expanding access has always been part of HIV care. At Prism Health North Texas, we advocate alongside local, state, and national leaders for policies that improve access to testing, prevention, treatment, and affordable medications while continuing to provide comprehensive, affirming care for our patients.
Someone coming in for an HIV test may also need a primary care provider, behavioral health support, women’s health services, pharmacy services or help navigating insurance and financial assistance programs. Addressing those needs together helps people stay engaged in care and improves long-term health.
Pride has always been about visibility and belonging. Those values continue to shape HIV care today. The researchers who developed new medications, the advocates who demanded investment, the healthcare workers who cared for patients, and the people living with HIV who shared their stories all helped move us to this point.
The next step is making sure every person can benefit from the progress that has already been made. Whether that starts with getting tested, asking a provider about PrEP, PEP or treatment options, supporting someone through treatment or simply having honest conversations about sexual health, small actions add up.
Forty-five years after the first reported AIDS cases, we have better tools than ever before. Our responsibility is to make sure those tools are available to every person who needs them.
Dr. John Carlo is CEO of Prism Health North Texas.