Editorial: Prejudice haunts HIV carriers

published on August 10, 2013 in Times Colonist

Carriers of HIV can understand what sufferers of leprosy endured in times past, and most of that suffering arose from misunderstanding. Leprosy was once so feared that sufferers of the disease were banished to colonies or forced to walk about crying “Unclean!” to avoid all contact with non-infected people. They were regarded as filthy and were given up for dead.

...

But the rate of transmission and the number of deaths from the disease in B.C. has dropped dramatically over the past several years. B.C. has been a leader in the field — Dr. Julio Montaner, a professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia and one of the world’s leading HIV/AIDS experts, had a role in developing the retroviral therapy. Thanks to a drug regimen developed by B.C. Women’s Hospital researchers, no HIV-positive babies have been born in the past 15 years to HIV-positive mothers who underwent the full treatment.

Times Colonist
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Our work serves clients and communities across British Columbia on lands and waters cared for and nurtured by the many distinct First Nations across the province. The BC-CfE humbly and gratefully acknowledge the stewards of these lands, particularly the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) on whose unceded, traditional and ancestral territories our offices are located.

© Copyright BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
St. Paul's Hospital 608–1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6
Tel: 604-806-8477 | Fax: 604-806-9044
General inquiries: info@bccfe.ca
Media inquiries: communications@bccfe.ca
(Please do not use any of these email addresses to send personal information or book an appointment. To book appointments or contact the H2H clinic, please call 604-416-1517 or fax: 604-564-4893. Do not send your or your client's personal information via email.)

© Copyright BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
St. Paul's Hospital 608–1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6
Tel: 604-806-8477 | Fax: 604-806-9044
General inquiries: info@bccfe.ca
Media inquiries: communications@bccfe.ca
(Please do not use any of these email addresses to send personal information or book an appointment. To book appointments or contact the H2H clinic, please call 604-416-1517 or fax: 604-564-4893. Do not send your or your client's personal information via email.)

Our work serves clients and communities across British Columbia on lands and waters cared for and nurtured by the many distinct First Nations across the province. The BC-CfE humbly and gratefully acknowledge the stewards of these lands, particularly the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) on whose unceded, traditional and ancestral territories our offices are located.