Globalized Means for Diagnostic and Preventative Management of HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is one of the global health issues of great proportions. The virus has reached pandemic volumes affecting the lives of many people throughout the world. The objective of this paper is to address pertinent factors about HIV/AIDS including a history of the disease, management, and treatment modalities. Furthermore, this paper will discuss the impact this disease has made globally on public and community health throughout the years. According to the U.S Department of State (2010), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a Final Rule in the Federal Register to remove the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection from the list of communicable diseases of public health significance [1]. The virus has had an exponential impact on the cost of health care globally. According to the World Health Organization (2018), there were approximately 36.9 million people living with HIV at the end of 2017 with 1.8 million people becoming newly infected in 2017 globally. It is estimated that currently only 75% of people with HIV know their status. In 2017, 21.7 million people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) globally. Between 2000 and 2017, new HIV infections fell by 36%, and HIV-related deaths fell by 38% with 11.4 million lives saved due to ART in the same period [2]. This achievement was the result of great efforts by national HIV programs supported by civil society and a range of development partners.

The goal is to educate the public about the signs and symptoms and risk factors associated with the disease. Long term survival is determinant on proper management and treatment modalities. However, at a global level treatment is too expensive for many. HIV/AIDS affects everyone regardless of sex, race, age, and income levels. There is a broader geographic distribution and it involves multiple transmission risk factors. Approximately 36.7 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2015. Of these, 1.8 million were children under 15 years old and roughly 2.1 million individuals worldwide became newly infected with HIV in 2015. In the United States alone, it is estimated than an average of 40,000 people are diagnosed with HIV each year. To reduce these numbers, technology has been playing a huge role in helping reduce the number of infected people, in addition to allowing for people to test themselves using your own smartphone. Additionally, adhering to proper health behaviors and preventive measures assists in decreasing the prevalence of the disease. Health assessment in health care centers, at-home diagnostic kits, and community health fairs promote awareness and early detection for those most susceptible to the virus.