Hiers on Ryan White

Soon we will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Ryan White Act, which has saved and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of persons living with HIV in the United States.  We commemorate both the wisdom of the law, which was introduced by the late Senator Edward Kennedy to provide a safety net for low-income persons in need of HIV care, medications, and services, and the brave young advocate himself, Ryan White, who only wanted to be treated like a normal little boy.  Instead he was expelled from his school; in response he became an activist for all people living with HIV.  Ryan was diagnosed with HIV in 1984 and was given six months to live.  He lived until 1990 and continues to stand as a symbol of courage and strength. What a long way we have come since Ryan White lost his battle with HIV disease!  In 1996 the concept of a three-drug treatment of antiretroviral therapy became widely available.  Within four years developed countries experienced a reduction in death rates of more than 80%.  As scientists learned more about the disease and about how HIV can be passed from mother to child, protocols were developed that dramatically reduced perinatal infection.  Today the chance of mother-to-child transmission can be less than 1% if appropriate medical treatment is provided and breast feeding is avoided. Perhaps one of the most exciting advances in the treatment of HIV is the improvement in the medications.  No longer do persons living with HIV need to ta...
Source: PHRMA - Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Source Type: news