Two Pandemics
As the end of 2020 comes to an end in a few days, I remember being completely blind to the idea of pandemics until September 2019 and being educates on how long the HIV epidemic has been going on for. I remember the awful adverts on TV with an AIDS monolith scaring the hell out of me. I remember watching Rent and feeling the sorrow for Angel at the funeral scene. Then I actually learnt about how far technology had moved on with retroviral medicine where those with a positive status could live almost normal lives.
On World Aids Day, I think of how much innovation made towards the other pandemic in the rest of the world’s foreground, the Covid 19 pandemic. Look how quickly all the most advanced minds got to work to find a vaccine. We have three different ones, all with different levels of effectiveness ready to be rolled out next year.
I feel uncomfortable about this, largely as why hasn’t this been the same treatment for HIV instead of treating those with positive status as modern day lepers? It lingers in my spirit and makes me think of all those different timelines where HIV could’ve been erased quickly, but it doesn’t make me any less grateful for how things have come.
I do want those who put so much effort into eliminating Covid to step up to the plate to eliminate HIV for the future. However we must stop judging those of positive status. They’ve judged themselves enough, so why should we? I’ve met those who disclosed their status publicly and I’ve learnt a lot from them.
Today I want a lot of people to Google and read up. Understand that we are on the cusp of putting an end to HIV. Especially for those who cannot afford medicines in the Western world.
On that note, #embraceinfinty folks.
Set yourself on fire.
Aquila Hope is a transformative coach, black trans activist, speaker, podcaster and songwriter. They’re found through Instagram, Twitter, Medium and their own website. Their podcast ‘Grasp At The Root’ can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcast, Apple Podcasts or wherever podcasts are distributed. Aquila lives on the outskirts of Birmingham, enjoys self improvement, creating music, good coffee and pizza.
