Thanks to the hard work of organizations like the B.C.'s Centre for Excellence in HIV/ AIDS, the tide has slowly turned on a once terrifying disease.
Now a provincial campaign aims to eliminate the virus completely.
Based on research developed in Vancouver, once-involved and lengthy HIV tests can now be done in 30 seconds with a single drop of blood.
At the same time, new combinations of drugs have helped drive down transmission rates by 95 per cent, and people diagnosed are living much longer, healthier lives.
The province is encouraging everyone who has been sexually active to have the quick and cheap test. Yes, everyone.
Ninety-nine per cent of the tests will show no infection, as expected. But one per cent likely will, experts say.
Catching that last one per cent of otherwise undiagnosed cases and getting them treated could virtually wipe out the disease locally.
Most of us probably assume we're comfortably in the 99 per cent. But 30 seconds and a drop of blood is a tiny price to pay for certainty, and we'll be doing our part to rid the province of such a wretched illness.
There is a valuable lesson in all of this. Investing in research for testing and treatment saves lives, and ultimately saves money.
There are dozens of other diseases in need of proactive attention.
It would be a worthwhile investment of both public and private dollars to keep our labs and scientists busy now to keep treatment wards quiet later.
