As a child of God, a woman, an American, a wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend, the HIV/AIDS pandemic in our world is of great concern to me. This disease doesn't discriminate based on age, race, religion, financial status or sexual orientation. HIV/AIDs is an issue that MUST matter to all of us!
Today as we celebrate World AIDS Day Everyday, lets please encourage one another to think and act responsibly, not only for ourselves but for our family, friends and fellow world citizens.
If you have a blog, website or email address, put it to great use and make someone you know (or better yet a complete stranger) aware about World AIDS Day today.
It's not too late. Spread the word...Stop the disease.
Stay motivated, Amber
What is HIV?
In 1985, scientists discovered the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a virus that is transmitted from person to person through the exchange of body fluids such as blood, semen, breast milk and vaginal secretions. Sexual contact is the most common way to spread HIV, but it can also be transmitted by sharing needles through IV drug use, or during childbirth and breastfeeding.
As HIV reproduces, it damages the body's immune system and the body becomes more prone to illness and infection. At this point, there is no known cure for HIV infection. However, physicians, researchers and scientists around the world continue to work tirelessly to find a cure to this pandemic disease.
What is AIDS?
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, is a condition that describes an advanced state of HIV infection. With AIDS, once the virus has progressed, it causes significant loss of white blood cells (CD4 cells) and often times various cancers or infection that result from immune system damage. Those illnesses and infections are said to be "AIDS-defining" because they mark the onset of AIDS. Like HIV, there is no known cure for AIDS.
Worldwide Statistics:
- Worldwide the estimated number of people living with HIV is over 33 million.
- An estimated one million Americans are living with HIV.
Regional statistics for HIV & AIDS, end of 2007 (according to the UN):
RegionAdults & children
living with HIV/AIDSAdults & children
newly infectedAdult prevalence*Deaths of
adults & children
Sub-Saharan Africa
22.0 million
1.9 million
5.0%
1.5 million
North Africa & Middle East
380,000
40,000
0.3%
27,000
Asia
5 million
380,000
0.3%
380,000
Oceania
74,000
13,000
0.4%
1,000
Latin America
1.7 million
140,000
0.5%
63,000
Caribbean
230,000
20,000
1.1%
14,000
Eastern Europe & Central Asia
1.5 million
110,000
0.8%
58,000
North America, Western & Central Europe
2.0 million
81,000
0.4%
31,000
Global Total
33.0 million
2.7 million
0.8%
2.0 million
* Proportion of adults aged 15-49 who were living with HIV/AIDS
During 2007 more than two and a half million adults and children became infected with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), the virus that causes AIDS. By the end of the year, an estimated 33 million people worldwide were living with HIV/AIDS. The year also saw two million deaths from AIDS, despite recent improvements in access to antiretroviral treatment.
Fact vs. Myth:
Contrary to public perception, you cannot get HIV infected by drinking from a water fountain, sitting on a toilet seat, hugging or touching an HIV infected person, or by eating off plates and utensils.
The following are ways HIV can be transmitted from one person to another:
What are HIV signs and symptoms?
Often people who are newly HIV infected have few or no symptoms. Other times, symptoms of HIV are confused with other illnesses such as the flu. If a person were to have symptoms they would include:
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, groin or under the arms
- Diarrhea
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Fever, chills or sweats (especially at night)
- Visual changes
- Frequent pneumonias or shortness of breath
- Rash
- Flu-like symptoms
How do we prevent HIV infection?
- Speak openly with partners about safer sex techniques and HIV status.
- If you don't know your status, get an HIV test to protect yourself and others.
- Get tested with your partner as a way of saying "you care and want both of you to stay healthy."
- Use a latex condom with each oral, anal or vaginal sexual encounter. Those with latex allergies should use latex-free condoms.
- Do not share needles or syringes if you inject drugs. If you do inject drugs, seek professional help to kick your habit.
- HIV infected pregnant women should get into regular prenatal care.
- HIV infected women should not breast feed.
World AIDS Day 2008 Campaign
The Department of Health and Human Services is working with AIDS.gov to promote "Facing AIDS: World AIDS Day 2008". This is a web-based campaign that allows people; positive and negative alike; their support of all people living with HIV/AIDS. There are four easy steps to joining this effort.
- Get a photo taken or yourself wearing an AIDS red ribbon. The key is to be creative.
- Put a Web Button on your ActiveRain site. FYI, HIVtest.org offers a collection of web buttons that you can add to your social networking page.
- Add that photo to all your social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, personal blogs, etc. Leave the photo up at least a week past December 1, 2008.
- Add your photo to the "World AIDS Day 2008" Flickr group
- Spread the word and encourage your friends to do the same.
- Find HIV testing sites near you by sending a text message containing your zip code to the number 566948 ("KNOWIT"). Within a few seconds you will receive on your phone a list of HIV testing sites in your area.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN DO TO COMBAT THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC IS TO NEVER GIVE UP HOPE!
