World AIDS Day 2010

As part of the curriculum of the intensive outpatient group I run, every six weeks I educate my adolescents about sexually transmitted infections; both bacterial and viral. Coincidentally, the week of sexual health falls this week and today I'll be educating my kids about HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis-C. While there is a lot of information "out there" about this virus, much of it is rumor, inaccurate facts and, to some extent, knowledge based on ignorance and fear.

Nothing pleases me more than after providing a bit of education my kiddos not only know about this global pandemic but, also have the education to protect themselves while understanding how this illness affects all human beings. You wouldn't believe how little adolescents know about the reality of this virus. Their lack of knowledge isn't their fault, it's ours, and we are responsible to them. With that said, part of the work of my and my colleagues mission involves infecting our youth with education-- education which we want them to transmit to everyone. Hopefully today, after learning all about a virus that does not discriminate, they will leave the room armed with facts, knowledge, and compassion; it's our hope they will be contagious.

Today is World AIDS Day. What do you know about HIV/AIDS?

According to UNAIDS.com estimates (2009), there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children.

Did you know:

1. You cannot get HIV from shaking hands or hugging a person with HIV/AIDS.
2. You cannot get HIV from using a public telephone, drinking fountain, restroom, swimming pool, jacuzzi, or hot tub.
3. You cannot get HIV from sharing a drink.
4. You cannot get HIV from being coughed or sneezed on by a person with HIV/AIDS.
5. You cannot get HIV from giving blood.
6. You cannot get HIV from a mosquito bite.
7. There are approximately 33.2 million people living with HIV, including about 2.5 children.
8. Half of all children living with HIV will die before their second birthday.
9. It takes about 14-weeks for HIV to incubate in the body. This means it can go undetected for over 3 months.
10. When AIDS was first "discovered" it was called GRIDS (gay-related-immunodeficiency-syndrome) because it was thought to occur mostly in homosexual men... but (THANKFULLY) the disease was renamed somewhere between 1982 and 1984 when scientists realized that the disease does not discriminate between humans.
11. A 2009 study indicated that HIV infections have reduced by approximately 17% in the past eight years. What do you think contributes to the decrease in infection rates? Education, for one. Spread the word.

http://www.aids.gov/basic/101/index.html

Today, just as I do about every 56-days, I'm giving blood. While transfusions are not a viable option for HIV/AIDS treatment, there are over 5-million blood transfusions in America every year. It's estimated that 5-10% of the world's blood supply is infected it HIV/AIDS- most of which is contained in blood outside of the U.S due to sub par testing procedures in poorer countries. There is a need for blood and, as small and helpless as I feel against the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, there are things I can do to make a difference. Giving one small pint of my blood makes a difference; I have about 10 healthy pints, I can spare just one
and so can you.

Find out what you can do to help fight this global pandemic. Action. Education. Awareness.

Top Ten Tuesday: World Aids Day

Today is World AIDS Day.
What do you know about HIV/AIDS?

According to UNAIDS.com estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children.

10 Facts about HIV/AIDS...Did you know:

1. You cannot get HIV from shaking hands or hugging a person with HIV/AIDS.
2. You cannot get HIV from using a public telephone, drinking fountain, restroom, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, or hot tub.
3. You cannot get HIV from sharing a drink.
4. You cannot get HIV from being coughed or sneezed on by a person with HIV/AIDS.
5. You cannot get HIV from giving blood.
6. You cannot get HIV from a mosquito bite.
7. There are approximately 33.2 million people living with HIV, including about 2.5 children.
8. Half of all children living with HIV will die before their second birthday.
9. It takes about 14-weeks for HIV to incubate in the body. This means it can go undetected for over 3 months.
10. When AIDS was first "discovered" it was called GRIDS (Gay-related-immunodeficiency-syndrome) because it was thought to occur mostly in homosexual men... but (THANKFULLY) the disease was renamed somewhere between 1982 and 1984 when scientists realized that the disease does not discriminate between humans.

http://www.aids.gov/basic/101/index.html

Educate yourself and find out what you can do to help fight this global epidemic.

World AIDS Day- 20th Anniversary

Today is World AIDS Day and it is also the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day's establishment and declaration.

What do you know about HIV/AIDS?

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children.

Did you know:

• You cannot get HIV from shaking hands or hugging a person with HIV/AIDS.
• You cannot get HIV from using a public telephone, drinking fountain, restroom, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, or hot tub .
• You cannot get HIV from sharing a drink.
• You cannot get HIV from being coughed or sneezed on by a person with HIV/AIDS.
• You cannot get HIV from giving blood.
• You cannot get HIV from a mosquito bite.

http://www.aids.gov/basic/101/index.html

Educate yourself and find out what you can do to help fight this global epidemic.

December 1

I wanted to make a separate post for this because it's so important. Please-- educate yourself and advocate for others. This is a GLOBAL problem.

It- does- not- discriminate.

In 2007, the estimated number of persons living with HIV worldwide was 33.2 million and there were 2.1 million AIDS deaths.

(retrieved 12/1/07 from the Dept of Health & Human Services website http://www.hhs.gov/aidsawarenessdays/days/world/index.html)

Check out:

http://www.worldaidsday.org/