A recent ground-breaking study on antiretroviral treatment has shown that the drugs can disable HIV and stop sexual transmission.
NewsDay Comment
The Partner study, which two years ago created headlines by establishing that the chance of an HIV-positive person with an undetectable viral load transmitting their virus was very low and quite possibly zero, released new data at the just-ended 21st International Aids Conference 2016 in Durban that further refined this estimate.
Good news for serodiscodernt couples (where one partner is HIV negative and the other is HIV positive) and also for the vulnerable group that cannot always negotiate for safer sexual measures.
However, looking at the bigger picture it could be that the results of the study can be manipulated and taken in the wrong context if due diligence is not taken.
Therefore, previous preventive interventions like consistent and correct use of condoms, abstinence and faithfulness should still be propagated more than the wonder “science” researches.
While we are not taking anything from the tremendous results, which will no doubt change the course in the fight against the deadly virus with 37 million people infected and still counting, the interpretation of such news should be well-defined to the ordinary person on the street.
For one to have a zero viral load (amount of HIV in one’s blood) one has to be taking their medication religiously, backed by positive living which includes, good nutrition habits, exercise and a positive demeanour.
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What is critical is getting those on medication to that level where their viral load is undetectable, and this should come out stronger than saying go ahead and have unprotected sex.
For young people abstinence is still a worthy campaign, but because statistics indicate that young people are indulging, condom use should still be a priority.
It is not a passport for wayward or reckless behaviour. The same caution that people were exercising should continue until a cure has been found.
We agree with advocates for HIV and Aids that a holistic approach is needed if the world is to realise any real gains. We are aware that wrong messages in the country almost threw campaigns for voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) into disarray after reports that circumcised men could no longer contract the HIV virus.
But, it took a whole lot of re-educating people that the other prevention methods were still important and should come first. The same message should be preached regardless of what any new scientific research says.
It was, therefore, timely when the just-ended Aids conference in South Africa emphasised the need to find a cure that can ultimately halt the disease.
Clearly, treatment regimes are not easy at all due to accessibility to medication, stigma and adherence to treatment regimens.
It is unfortunate that many deserving patients still do not have access, yet some who are lucky to be on medication have to contend with issues of adherence, food insecurity and cost of the various tests like viral load and CD4 count, among many others.
Surely, we cannot celebrate the new findings yet, as these should be done with the back up of adequate information on how exactly one gets to a point where they cannot infect each other.
The world must approach these scientific researches with caution until they are proven.
