I would like to thank Mr. Cohen for his article on the conditions of HIV/AIDS care in Puerto Rico. As a proud citizen of the Enchanted Island, I am continually baffled by the statistics of drug-using HIV patients. However, I do know all too well that, as the article stated, "We're submerged into the U.S. statistics." Unfortunately, this circumstance is a detrimental condition that persists "under the radar," in spite of the fact that Puerto Rico is a protectorate of the United States. The problem is not restricted to HIV health care, but extends to many other social, political, environmental, and especially economical problems, as the author stated.
I'm surprised at the social stigma that drug users experience, not only in their access to treatment, but also to the research of drug addiction. In a country where obesity, in some cases, continues to be another "addiction" problem, policy makers and grant funding agencies should remember that it's equally important to investigate the cure as well as the prevention.
I do hope that this article, as well as articles about neighboring islands and countries, continue to remind us that HIV relief is not something that is a problem in far away continents, but just in our backyard.
Thank you to Science for your continued reports of this deadly disease, and your attempts to create global awareness of health concerns.
E-Letters: ![[Read E-Letter]](/icons/misc/sectionDOWN.gif){kind=icon}
