In our efforts to prevent HIV transmission and
improve the care of persons living with HIV we must keep foremost in mind that
we are not merely dealing with the interplay between a retrovirus and an
individual’s immune system; it’s a much more nuanced interaction. Understanding
and addressing the relevant social, economic and environmental circumstances of
our client’s lives is as important today as it was back in 1981. And
while as a nation we may have moved beyond the more blatant, headline-grabbing
forms of stigma and discrimination associated with HIV in that first decade of
the epidemic, we must continue to confront HIV-related stigma whenever and
wherever we encounter it.
Finally– and this is a lesson that we should never forget–we are stronger and
more effective when we can work together, building bridges across programs,
disciplines and perspectives. The fact that biomedical science has tremendously
advanced our ability to counter this epidemic should never be misinterpreted to
mean that other components of a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS are no
longer necessary. Strong leadership, community mobilization, a shared vision of
success and an unwavering commitment to empowering our most vulnerable
populations must always be at the heart of our work to stop the HIV/AIDS
epidemic here in the U.S. and abroad.
Dr. Ronald Valdiserri
