Essay --

Ryan White was the most prominent HIV/AIDS activist. He had become the national poster boy for HIV/AIDs in the United States. Ryan educated the public with knowledge about his disease. Because of Ryan’s experience being broadcasted across the nation, the discrimination of those who had HIV or AIDS was exposed and he spoke out for the rights of those who were living with AIDS. The programs started in his name today are the largest provider of services for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States. What is HIV/AIDS? HIV stands for â€Å"human immunodeficiency syndrome,† while AIDS stands for â€Å"acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.† AIDS is the final stage of HIV, which causes severe damage to the immune system. In our world today, over 35.3 million people worldwide currently live with either HIV or AIDS, with 2.1 million of them still being young children and teens. It is transmitted through sexual contact, exposure to infected body tissue or fluids, or hereditarily from the mother during pregnancy and breastfeeding (Global AIDS Overview). What people didn’t know before, and still don’t today, is that the virus cannot be transmitted through; saliva, sweat, tears, urine, or vomit unless they are somehow contaminated with blood. Most people that live with or are at risk of contracting HIV do not have access to any sort of prevention or treatment care. Although scientists have spent many years searching, there is still no known cure for the virus. Today, he would be forty-two years old. Born in Kokomo, Ryan was diagnosed as a hemophiliac at birth. He suffered from severe Hemophilia A, a hereditary blood coagulation which causes even the most minor injuries to result in severe bleeding. He would begin receiving the common treatment at ... ...tor Orrin Hatch and Edward Kennedy, it helped the cause by providing funds to the cities hardest hit by AIDS. This contained disaster relief for 16 cities, grants to all 50 states, and special projects that emphasized early intervention for newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients. The act improved available funding for care of low-income, uninsured, and underinsured victims of AIDS and their families (Siplon). Ryan White was the most prominent AIDS activist. Being the national poster boy for AIDS in the United States, he changed its public perception on AIDS. Also because of White’s influence, a numerous amount of programs have been established that provide victims of HIV/AIDS cope with the disease, especially the populations that were underserved and couldn’t cope without any assistance. Ryan was an influence to not only HIV/AIDS victims, but to people nationwide.