Denial, as the saying goes, is not just a river in Egypt.

When it comes to HIV/AIDS, denial, which leads to delay, can be deadly. Unfortunately, a handful of people continue to deny that HIV causes AIDS, creating doubt where scientifically there should be none. AIDS Truth.org very clearly debunks any myths deniers succeed in ciruclating. The alternative therapies deniers promote may stregthen the immune system, promote a healthier life and are significantly less expensive than the pharmaceuticals prescribed to manage HIV. There is no denying the fact that the medications are toxic and have side effects that can be difficult to manage, and are expensive if available. But alternative therapies alone will not work.

As an HIV positive man, I have been blessed with a physician that has worked with me to manage the virus, and has been open to my input. He has guided me toward many non-prescription therapies, and as the protocols for when a patient should start on medications evolved, he allowed me to postpone medications as long as I could, about five years.

When my numbers became unacceptable, he wrote prescriptions, and being in denial about now needing the medication, I delayed filling it. My denial and delay took a toll. The stress, dangerous to any immune system regardless of HIV status, of a challenging job, coupled with my compromised immune system, lead me to a 105 degree temperature and several days in the ICU with pnuemonia. That was more than 18 months ago. Since then I have faithfully taken my meds, continued to pursue supplemental therapies, meditate, relax, and eat right, and my health is better than it has been since before I contracted HIV, another time when denial delayed action that could have prevented my exposure.

Denial on a personal level affected my health. Denial about the cause of AIDS, and proven public health policies to prevent the spread of HIV, affects us all.

There is no doubt among the very best minds on the planet about the relationship of HIV and AIDS, about how to prevent it, and about the potential for managing it long term, until there is a cure.

Like those who deny the Holocaust, HIV deniers are few, but with access to the internet, they may be able to generate impressive lists of people with credentials. Thankfully, they remain only a handful people globally.

Like those who deny global warming, something the Bush Administration unfortunately continues to foster, the result of time and energy spent debating what is accepted scientific fact only creates doubt, and delays action. Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth removes any doubt about global warming, and AIDS Truth.org, should remove any doubt about HIV and AIDS.

With both HIV and global warming, there are individual steps one can take to protect themselves and others, and contribute to the healing of the planet. And like in the case of those who deny the Holocaust, it is incumbent on those of us with HIV, like survivors of the Holocaust, to speak up to deniers and remind people who do not share our experience that denial of any problem will only delay finding solutions.