He outlined his newest project Wednesday before about 40 HIV-infected patients and their loved ones at Our Place, a weekly drop-in center at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Willingboro.
"There is a way to deal with this invasion that can help us that we're not now using," Daly said. "Don't wait for something to come down from above or anywhere else. Try and see what you can do with what you have at hand."
In his "Seven Points of Light" - the doctor's name for his management plan for patients with HIV or full-blown AIDS - Daly emphasized personal health measures over drugs that can have poisonous side effects. The idea is to build up the immune system in an attempt to slow the inevitable progression
from HIV infection to full-blown AIDS, which eventually leads to death.
The protocol advises patients to improve their self-image, eat well, exercise, quit smoking, drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs, minimize the use of prescribed medications, use condoms and other safe sex measures, and maintain faith and trust in God.
Heureka is currently seeking funding to enlist between 50 and 100 patients in a health program following the recommendations, Daly said. He said he hopes to get the experiment off the ground in June to determine whether the protocol has a positive impact on patients' immune systems.
Audience members - men and women from all walks of life - listened attentively during Daly's presentation.
A cluster of men on smoking break during Daly's talk took a minute to reflect on the doctor's advice.
The men approved of Daly's suggestion to go beyond prescription drugs in their health regimens.
"We've made the mistake with AIDS of concentrating all our apples in one area," said an AIDS patient who asked not to be identified by name.
They acknowledged that improving their personal habits would be a smart move, no matter what the status of their health. But that's easier said than done, they said.
"People make the mistake of saying, 'If I'm going to go, I'm going to par- ty," said Joe Brady, snapping his fingers between puffs on his cigarette.
"I think the hardest thing is making that lifestyle change," said the Pemberton resident who has cared for an AIDS patient for years and has been a regular at the drop-in center since it opened in September.
