Cryptococcal meningitis: one of the most horrific ways to die
"As mortal human beings (with or without HIV), we all have to confront the reality that we are going to die eventually, but people with advanced HIV disease often develop cryptococcal meningitis. It is the most horrific ways to die. You cannot see, you cannot hear" It is a very painful disease," shared Loon.
"We must ask ourselves who we are advocating for. Do our organisations only represent healthy people living with HIV or are we working where we are needed most, for people with advanced HIV disease? We must ensure that everyone benefits from the scientific advances we have access to, but the reality is that we seem to have forgotten these people," said Loon.
"We will talk about advanced HIV disease at this conference (#AIDS2024) but when we go home, we need to remember that advanced HIV disease is real, and it is killing our friends. We need to advocate for the diagnostics required for advanced HIV disease, cryptococcal meningitis and drug-resistant forms of TB - along with equitable access to latest treatment regimens - and full cascade of care," summed up Loon.
Shobha Shukla - CNS (Citizen News Service)
(Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here www.bit.ly/ShobhaShukla)
- Shared under Creative Commons (CC)
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
