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As World AIDS Day approaches December 1, the University of Michigan hosted a debate Thursday night to discuss the current state of HIV and AIDS. The panel brought together medical experts and people living with HIV or AIDS and discussed current methods of treating HIV / AIDS, contributing to HIV prevention and the experience of living with HIV.
Dr. Gary Harper, a professor at the School of Public Health and one of the panelists, spoke about his experience in studying HIV over time. He stated that he thought the treatment had improved tremendously, but some things, such as the stigma conveyed by the disease, had not changed as much as he had hoped.
"I have been working on HIV since 1985 and I think the focus on HIV has diminished," said Harper. "I was just excited about the fact that we continue to draw attention to this very important and crucial issue. I think in some areas, huge changes have occurred, in others not. We have seen huge changes in treatment. When I was working in 1985, especially at the beginning of my career as a psychologist, we helped people die. And now we do not see so many people dying. I think that although we have seen a decrease in stigma, we are seeing areas where people are resistant to change. So there is a lot of stigma and just a lack of knowledge and understanding. "
Harper went on to say that he wanted citizens and university students to understand that HIV is still an urgent problem. He added that he thought that if people struggled with ignorance, they could help eliminate the negative stereotypes badociated with HIV.
"I want them to know that HIV is still a problem in our country and in the world, and that it is stigma and lack of information, lack of understanding and ignorance that perpetuate it" , said Harper. "Even if it only affects certain communities and populations, we must all be part of the solution. We must all work to reduce stigma, we must all improve access in our own way, so that people can get the care they need. "
Marco Wade, a Michigan resident who has been living with AIDS for many years, was one of the other speakers. Wade recounted what he felt when he learned that he was suffering from AIDS. Wade said that although he came to accept it today, it was difficult to cope early, especially psychologically.
"For me, it's not really a big deal," Wade said. "I look at him – that's what it is, I can not change it. Part of that is a good group of friends. Mental health though, I'm glad you mentioned it. I'm going to a therapist. I would not be here today if I did not do it. When I first discovered it, I became really depressed. It was devastating, it was: "How did I get this?" I was with someone with whom I had been for 8 years, what is that brothel? "
Catherine Szkop, a senior student at LSA, one of the few students on the panel, said she had never met someone with AIDS. It was therefore a revealing experience that helped to better understand the emotional side of the disease.
"I have never heard of the human perspective and the human experience of the disease. That's what I learned today from two different people, "said Szkop. "I did not know much about policies, like the HIV law, so I learned as much."
Szkop also spoke of ways in which she thought she could help, even without a direct link to the community. She said that she felt informed to be valuable and that she would help fight ignorance about AIDS, even during informal conversations.
"I do not have a specific link to help people in this community," Szkop said. "My greatest thing is always that knowledge is power. That's why, just as I understand this can lead to ways to advocate for this power, it does not necessarily mean that I will like to lobby for it in government or whatever. But that means that in my own circles, if someone says something wrong, I can say, "In fact, I learned that."
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