Summary
HIV is an incurable disease that has been a big problem in all parts of the world. Since it was first reported, scientists have been researching in a bid to look for a cure. However, their efforts have not yielded any results. The much they have been able to do is to manufacture drugs that boost the immunity of HIV patients. This implies that the discovery of an HIV cure would be good news to the world. This essay focuses on an article published in The New York Times about a baby who has been cured of HIV Pollack, A., & McNeil, D. G., Jr. Baby With H.I.V. Is Reported Cured.
Impact of the Article on Human Society
The article has a great impact on society because HIV is a disease that affects many people worldwide. A cure for HIV would save individuals suffering from the disease enormous amounts of money, which they spent on medication. It would also reduce the stigma associated with the disease since the victims would be able to access treatment. A cure for the disease would therefore create a positive impact on human society.
My Opinion on Information Presented in the Article
Although the article suggests that babies born with HIV can be cured, my opinion is that HIV is still a big challenge in society. The testing procedures that were conducted on the baby who was cured might have succeeded, but the results cannot be easily generalized. It is important to educate mothers living with HIV on how they can deliver safely for them to prevent their babies from infection. This is because some of them can infect their babies with HIV during birth. I do not entirely disagree with the article, but the procedure needs to be carried out on several babies before it can be recommended in other parts of the world.
Importance of the Subject of the Article
The subject of the article is very important to doctor and mothers living with HIV, who would like to give birth and bring up healthy babies. The subject is important to doctor because they have spent many years, time and energy trying to look for a cure. However, their efforts have always been futile. It is estimated that globally, the number of children living with HIV exceeds three million. This is a disturbing figure because it implies that there are children who live on drugs when they should be enjoying their lives, free of health complications.
As a result, news that a cure for HIV among children has been discovered would be a great achievement for doctors. Infected mothers would also welcome such news because they would get an opportunity to give birth to healthy babies. I think more resources should be spent on this subject because a cure for HIV among children would allow them to live better lives.
Future Developments Concerning the Article
Since HIV is of concern to everybody in society, certain future developments related to the disease can be explored. One of the developments would be to carry out the test that was carried out on the baby in different medical institutions to find out if the procedure is applicable in other areas. Another future development would be to develop high-quality machines for carrying out accurate tests.
Questions I Had after Reading the Article
After reading the article, the first question I asked myself was whether it is possible for a baby with HIV to be cured without medication. The second question was about the total amount of money that the whole procedure of curing a baby with HIV would cost while the third question was whether the treatment can be made affordable in developing countries.
Reference
Pollack, A., & McNeil, D. G., Jr. (2013). Baby With H.I.V. Is Reported Cured. The New York Times. Web.