After seeing the success of Brown's case, doctors are confident that they can possibly construct a cure for HIV by using genetically-engineered stem cells. In addition to the Brown case, doctors also found that healthy patients who take antiretrovirals, which are typically prescribed to HIV patients, can reduce their chances of infection by 73 percent.
These developments are critical, given that there are 33 million people infected with HIV. Families are ruined because of the disease, and the African American community is disproportionately impacted. The disease is especially frightening due to the fact that it withstands a prolonged incubation period before taking effect. This leads to the carrier infecting quite a few other people before he/she finds their way to treatment.
To date, African Americans are only 13 percent of the population, but represent 40 percent of all deaths related to HIV. Additionally, we represent half of the one million Americans living with HIV. So, this disease has a tremendous impact on our community, and this study can change the lives of quite a few members of our community.
All of us should be educated about HIV and we must also adjust our approach to sexuality. Difficult questions must be asked, instead of simply trusting that a person who looks clean is safe. The old song by Big Pun with the lyrics "Don't wanna be a playa no more," has relevance today, given that many of us think that our actions in the past can't impact our future. But the truth is that being a "playa" for a few years may have long-term consequences that impact your ability to get married and have children later on down the road. Perhaps it's time to think again and be a bit more careful. Oh yea - get tested....if your partner doesn't ever go to the doctor but has had multiple sex partners, you are putting yourself in harm's way. Make sure you are aware of your status.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.