By Tai Venuti of Allsup
If there was a pill that could guard you from a devastating disease, would you want access to it?
World AIDS Day Dec. 1 comes on the heels of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report about a pill that can prevent HIV infection.
A Vital Signs report published Nov. 24 estimated that 25 percent of sexually active gay and bisexual adult men, nearly 20 percent of adults who inject drugs, and less than 1 percent of heterosexually active adults are at substantial risk for HIV infection. According to the report, these individuals should be counseled about pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP, a daily pill for HIV prevention.
The pill can reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV by more than 90 percent when it’s taken daily, the CDC reported. Daily PrEP also can reduce the risk of HIV infection by more than 70 percent among people who inject drugs. The medication was approved in 2012 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Knowledge Is Power For Self-Advocacy
This drug sounds like something many at-risk individuals would want to know about.
However, if you don’t know to ask for it, you may not get it. According to recent studies, some primary healthcare providers have never heard of PrEP. This is a vivid reminder of the importance of being your own advocate.
Self-advocacy is a way of taking some control in health situations that may be overwhelming. I’ve heard from many patients whose self-advocacy efforts were the main reason they finally got a diagnosis, finally got the medicine or procedure they needed, or finally obtained the benefits they deserved.
The first step in becoming a successful self-advocate? Get good information. Seek out organizations dedicated to raising awareness and support for individuals with your health condition.
More Information On HIV/AIDS
Click here to for links to organizations that support individuals with HIV/AIDS and other conditions.
Government websites also can be good sources for the latest scientific research and fact sheets. Click here for AIDSinfo fact sheets.
In addition to educating yourself about your health condition, another important component of self-advocacy is knowing your rights and responsibilities regarding disability benefits.
Individuals with HIV/AIDS, or other conditions, who cannot continue working should check into their eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
To learn about Social Security’s five-step process to determine if an AIDS patient qualifies for SSDI, click here.
The theme for World AIDS Day 2015 is “The Time to Act is Now.” It is a theme that applies to all persons living with a chronic disease or disability. What could you do today to become a self-advocate?
