San Francisco could become the first US city to eliminate new HIV infections
SAN FRANCISCO - In a different city, in a different decade, the news would have changed David's life forever.
Instead the graduate student, who dreams of some day acting and teaching, told himself one thing as he waited for test results in the San Francisco General Hospital emergency room: "If it comes back and it's positive, just do what you can to stay healthy. ... If it comes back negative, be even more careful."
David's HIV test was positive.
Two days later, he met with a social worker in Ward 86 - the first dedicated HIV clinic in the U.S., founded in 1983. He got help, that same day, to sign up for insurance he can afford. He got a starter pack, that same day, of antiretroviral therapy and a prescription for more medication.
When his pharmacist told him there would be a $1,195 co-payment, his social worker made the co-pay go away. David, who is 33 and spoke on the
