On World Aids Day remember those lost to the virus but commit to a brighter future

We first heard of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and the disease it causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) 40 years ago. Back then, HIV and AIDS were viewed as terrifying, a virtual death sentence. In 1988, the world declared today, Dec. 1, World AIDS Day to raise awareness of the global spread of this increasingly deadly disease. Thirty-five years later, Illinois is fortunate to be in a better place – one to remember those we have lost but also commit to a brighter future.

It's easy to forget that in the early days of the AIDS crisis, society’s fear often manifested itself in anger. Battling a deadly disease, individuals suffering from HIV and AIDS were at times persecuted and isolated from the rest of society. Those days stand as stark reminders of the need to treat everyone with compassion and dignity.

Fortunately, then, and now, there are heroes who battled this disease and others who stood up to the fear and ignorance, seeking answers to help struggling individuals live full and productive lives.

While we don’t yet have a cure for everyone, HIV today is easier to treat and control than ever. Today’s anti-retroviral medications can suppress HIV viral loads so powerfully that people living with HIV are no longer infectious. Regular HIV testing and prompt treatment are two of the most powerful, cost-effective tools we have to end the HIV epidemic.

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We also have the benefit of preventive medication, such as PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, that can keep people who might otherwise be at risk for HIV from contracting the virus. PrEP use in Illinois has more than doubled in the past three years, and Illinois invested more than $3 million in the last fiscal year for additional services. You can learn more by visiting prep4illinois.com.

In addition to PREP, the Illinois Department of Public Health is proud to run the Ryan White Part B and the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, ensuring that people in Illinois who are living with HIV can access the medication and services they need to stay healthy, regardless of their ability to pay.

This is all part of Gov. JB Pritzker’s ambitious plan to effectively end the HIV epidemic by the end of this decade. The Getting to Zero Illinois initiative is a partnership with IDPH, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. It relies on treatments and interventions to slow HIV’s spread and efforts to address chronic disparities in care and ongoing shortages in the workforce.

Those efforts are paying off, but there is much more work to do, particularly in communities of color. Even though the number of HIV infections among African Americans in Illinois fell 27% from 2013-2022, 44% of all HIV cases in our state today belong to those in the Black/African American community. IDPH and the Chicago Department of Public Health are committed to this challenge, partnering with Black-led organizations in an initiative called THRIVE to begin addressing these grave disparities. And, thanks to the efforts of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, our state continues to invest in funding to deliver help where it is most needed.

HIV is still with us in Illinois. More than 37,000 people across the state are living with this virus. But the key word there is “living.” We mourn those we have lost and continue to lose. They and their families deserve better. Yet, their sacrifice inspires us to continue to act – to work with partners across Illinois to raise awareness and provide new hope in this fight against HIV and AIDS.

The theme of this World AIDS Day is “Remember and Commit.” Let’s all come together to remember those we have lost to this virus, to honor the scientists and researchers who never gave up in their quest for effective treatments, and to commit ourselves anew. Together, let’s raise efforts to keep our residents healthy, educate the public on the continued threat and stigma of HIV, and provide the care and compassion that everyone in Illinois deserves.

Dr. Sameer Vohra is director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: On World Aids Day remember, honor, and commit to a brighter future