Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author only and do not represent the views and opinions of the crypto.news editorial.
Imagine living your life where everyone you meet discriminates against and stigmatizes you. Just for a few seconds, put yourself in that place and think again: every second person you meet is.
Terrible, isn’t it? I wish it was just my nightmares or just a catchphrase to start an article on, but it is the reality for people living with HIV.
It started in the 1980s when President Ronald Reagan’s public attitude towards the HIV/AIDS epidemic – which they called the “gay plague” – was sheer ignorance and stupidity. And nearly four decades later, not much has changed. The consequences of stigmatizing people living with HIV have been well documented, and the data is scary: More than 50% of all people globally hold discriminatory and negative views about people who test positive for HIV, according to Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS).
Global Health Organization (WHO) data shows that about 38.5 million people have been diagnosed with HIV by the end of 2021. If you violate UNAIDS data Below, you will see that Africa, Asia and Latin America combined have nearly 33 million people who have tested positive for HIV, which is approximately 85% of the total number of people living with HIV worldwide.
I’m not talking about Western colonialism and supremacy (at least, not here), but the trend is clear: If we want to stop the HIV pandemic, we must take serious steps, and we must take them now. using every tool we have available. Blockchain technology might be one of the most amazing and obvious answers if you think about it.
Back in 2014, UNAIDS released “90-90-90” initiativewhich aims to achieve three goals: 90% of all HIV-positive individuals should be aware of the diagnosis, 90% of those diagnosed should receive treatment, and 90% of those diagnosed should receive treatment to suppress further progression of the disease.
In order to achieve 90-90-90 strategyHealth facilities must be able to provide people with a wide range of antiretroviral therapy and related HIV/AIDS commodities for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
Simply put, the 90-90-90 strategy requires global transportation of needed HIV testing kits as well as the ART itself, which may mean, in some cases, taking up to 4-6 tablets per day per person. Thus, health organizations must be involved in the global logistics of goods and commodities around the world.
Meanwhile, as we can clearly see from many reports, the traditional supply chain management in developing countries – for example, Uganda And Ethiopia, among the most vulnerable to the HIV epidemic – could not provide the required performance. Disruption of traditional supply chain management and problems related to logistics services It has been Well documented over the years.
The roots of the logistical problem lie in the outdated paper supply chain management and usability corruption. Blockchain technology It was used As an effective workaround to this problem, to become the cornerstone of logistics improvements in recent years. Just look at the latest news on tech and consulting giants entering the space: from Ernst & Young to IBM to the US Department of Agriculture.
Not surprisingly, the problem of access to antiretroviral therapy and related HIV/AIDS commodities for diagnosis resides in weaknesses in procurement mechanisms and supply chain management systems in developing countries, as the most recent Stady show up. The conclusions were similar to make In data from 137 countries in 2018. The most vulnerable countries tend to stay the same, experiencing the HIV pandemic the most. Digitizing drug supply chain management would greatly improve the situation in areas of greatest need, and blockchain technology has already been proven as a reliable logistics solution.
Given the world in which people living with HIV live, the world where half the population – I’ll stress it again: that means every second person you meet – is quick to discriminate against them when it is revealed that they have HIV.
What can help reduce prejudice and discrimination against people living with HIV? Well, I guess anonymity would be an option.
In order to determine the HIV status of individuals at risk of contracting HIV and the most vulnerable communities as well as track this data reliably, anonymously and conveniently, there must be specific technologies that would allow this. Blockchain technology, once again, is the perfect solution for this.
A few years ago, the LGBT Foundation Established To put HIV tests on the blockchain, making the entire process transparent and traceable. As a result, the anonymity and credibility of the process may help prevent the spread of HIV among vulnerable populations and communities.
Another study came To a similar conclusion about the possibility of collecting and storing data on the blockchain: “Blockchain is an emerging technology with roots in cryptocurrency, and its features are well suited to work in HIV.” With this technology, information can be easily and reliably encrypted and then recorded and kept anonymously in the network.
Using blockchain for the healthcare sector already seems to be a very profitable decision, as some estimates predict that the sector will reach $77.76 billion by 2027 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39.53%. People living with HIV will be just a natural part of this massive industry, promising to make a huge impact.
Another innovative approach was Proposal By scientist Jia Liu at the Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China. The study proposes using a decentralized application (dapp) based on the blockchain to implement the so-called Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HDV) Digital Vaccine Strategy.
As Liu says, “A, B, C, and D represent individuals who come from populations at high risk of HIV infection. Tokens are exchanged when transactions occur between participants. Different transaction patterns can be used in different regions, and may vary when the situation changes.” “. Behaviors in the gray frames are linked to the blockchain. Participants in the gray frames are the main users of the Dapp. CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dapp: A decentralized application.”
In short, emerging technologies such as blockchain have the potential to dramatically change the situation while preventing new cases of HIV disease. First, it can serve as support for useful and reliable supply chain management solutions in order to reduce corruption and vulnerabilities in paper-based logistics, especially in developing countries.
Second, blockchain in the healthcare system, in general, will help anonymize and protect sensitive data storage of people living with HIV-positive status under constant pressure of discrimination and stigma among the most vulnerable population of HIV-risk individuals and communities. marginalized. .
Finally, a promising study proposes an innovative solution to address the global problem of HIV prevalence by implementing dapps based on a permissionless public blockchain.
Yes, the proposal is theoretical. It is understandable. At the same time, it provides the framework and strategy for its implementation, and awaits a team of enthusiasts who will realize it for the common good of the world’s population.
The most difficult thing about the advanced capitalist era we live in is that when new technologies emerge, the pioneers who enter the space will often be the ones looking for revenue, new value, and quick money. And of course, there have been and always will be scammers or people trying to take advantage of this for their own benefit. In this race to generate wealth, it is possible to miss the real beneficial impact that these technologies can have.
Obviously, Blockchain technology cannot solve it everyone problems faced by humanity. However, it has great potential to solve at least one very specific and challenging problem: it can help the millions of people living with HIV who live under stigma and discrimination have a chance at a better life.