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In 2006 (RED) launched a new way to help fight the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa by partnering with major corporations like Apple and Starbucks. To date, (RED) has raised $200,000,000.00 (200 million) to help fund AIDS treatment in Africa. Without that $200 million, approximately 14 million people would not have received treatment, and most likely would not be here today. In the United States, most HIV/AIDS treatment is covered under insurance and does not require the raising of donations for the treatment to occur. With this being said, it is important to remember that the treatment of HIV/AIDS differs greatly based on funding, stigma, and personal belief, even though the medicine is the same. How HIV/AIDS is treated is generally the same regardless of what side of the world you live on. Antiretroviral medications (ARV’s) are the same cocktail of drugs; stavudine (d4T) + lamivudine (3TC) + nevirapine (NVP). This chemical compound is the same whether you’re using costly name brand ARV’s or generic ARV’s. Both provide the same treatment and both have the same amount of proven success. How the treatment is distributed is a different story. When a person from the United States has contracted HIV/AIDS they are tested by their doctor to confirm the disease and then they are prescribed medication that is then fulfilled by the pharmacist at their local pharmacy and billed to the insurance company after co-pay is made by the patient. Treatment distribution in Africa is made through free clinics where men, women and children come and get tested and once the testing is completed, if the results returned are positive, that individual returns to the clinic to receive their treatment. One advantage that those who have received an HIV-Positive diagnosis is that the availability of treatment is much greater than it is for those in the United States and do not have insurance. Those in the U.S. who do not have insurance will find it difficult to afford the

References: (RED) FAQ. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.joinred.com/faq/ HIV & AIDS Stigma and Discrimination. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-stigma.htm HIV & AIDS Treatment in the United States of America. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/aids-treatment-america.htm HIV & AIDS Stigma and Discrimination. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-stigma.htm#contentTable3 HIV & AIDS in the United States of America. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/america.htm#contentTable5 HIV & AIDS in the United States of America. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/america.htm#contentTable6