More than 1.1 million people in the U.S. are currently living with HIV, and the number of new cases each year has remained relatively stable, according to the CDC. While these stats may sound bleak, there’s one optimistic message that remains: There is treatment for HIV and it’s currently helping people live full, normal lives after a diagnosis.
That’s the message of the brand new CDC campaign, “HIV Treatment Works.†The national campaign was rolled out yesterday, and it contains three major pillars: Get in care, stay in care, and live well. It is the CDC’s first campaign dedicated exclusively to people living with HIV, and you’ll soon see it in print, online, TV, and outdoor ads.
Check out some of the powerful images below and more on their website:
While we still don’t have a cure for HIV, there is absolutely treatment available. And people with HIV who start treatment are 96 percent less likely to transit HIV to others, according to the CDC. This treatment is called antiretroviral therapy (ART), which includes a combination of drugs called antiretrovirals. According to the CDC, these drugs can help keep you healthy for years and significantly reduce your chances of passing the virus along to your partner. That’s because it works by reducing the amount of the virus in your blood and bodily fluids, making it harder to transmit HIV.
For more information on the campaign and living with HIV, head to the “HIV Treatment Works†center at CDC.gov.
More from Women’s Health:
The State of HIV in America
Task Force Recommends HIV Testing for All
CDC Recommends Anti-HIV Pill for High-Risk Individuals