For my "Did you know" section of my blog I am going to focus on a topic that might seem surprising considering my first Blog. If you did not have a chance to read my first blog a friend of mine I've know for years was recently tested positive for HIV, which seems unreal and ironic for my placement in this HIV class. I've chosen to focus on prevention, because I believe that contracting this disease can, most of the time, be prevented. I will at the end of the class move into cure because for the unfortunate ones that do contract the HIV/AIDS disease, I hope to see a cure for them, such as my friend. Teach told me to explore the Advert.org website to become more aware of what is happening in the current world of HIV so I did. I was shocked to see all the information and support out there for HIV. According to advert.org "HIV can be transmitted in the sexual fluids, blood or breast milk of an infected person. HIV prevention therefore involves a wide range of activities including prevention of mother-to-child transmission, needle exchanges and harm reduction for injecting drug users, and precautions for health care workers" (Advert). The ABC's don't necessarily have a clear definition besides the general: A-bstain,B-e-faithful, C-ondomise. After reading about the difficulty with defining the ABC's it mainly comes from US-funded PEPFAR initiative and by UNAIDS. PEPFAR's definition is, "A bstinence for youth, including the delay of sexual debut and abstinence until marriage, B eing tested for HIV and being faithful in marriage and monogamous relationships, C orrect and consistent use of condoms for those who practice high-risk behaviours (Advert.org, 2009)." Whereas, UNAIDS is defined as, "A-bstinence or delaying first sex, B-eing safer by being faithful to one partner or by reducing the number of sexual partners, C-orrect and consistent use of condoms for sexually active young people, couples in which one partner is HIV-positive, sex workers and their clients, and anyone engaging in sexual activity with partners who may have been at risk of HIV exposure (Adverg.org, 2009)." One thing they have in common is to BE CAUTIOUS. You need to know the risk of HIV and avoid risky sexual behavior. This can include saving your self for marriage, being monogamous, and using protection.
When reading on how to prevent contracting AIDS, I somehow got angry. I can't explain the feeling, but I found myself getting defensive for my friend. Is it HER fault that she has AIDS then, since there are so many ways to avoid it? I will not accept that. I do not think that is what Advert.org was trying to inform, but that's the way I took it. I think it is just my vulnerable state right now, but this was not her fault. It is a complete unfortunate situation. I do not want to make this blog my venting spot of how unfair I think it is that my friend tested positive, but you'll have to bare with my through my initial shock.
A New York State Organization called NYCAHN (The New York City AIDS Housing Network) "is working with a coalition of organizations to monitor and advocate around a New York State Department of Health proposal that would require all people living with HIV/AIDS receiving Medicaid to enroll in a managed care plan (either a SNP or mainstream HMO" (NYCHAN.org, 2008)." The amazing thing about NYCAHN is that it is led by HIV/AIDS individuals that live in a low-income household working with nonprofit housing providers and AIDS service organizations. The main goal is provide better housing situations for all low income people living with HIV/AIDS. HIV in low- income families is not a topic that we have covered yet in our HIV course, but I believe is a very important one. Something interesting that NYCAHN seeks to do is to prove that everyone is equal, regardless if you have HIV or not. EVERYONE is equal, and I am very excited what NYCAHN is trying to do.
The ABC of HIV prevention. (2009). Retrieved September 10, 2009, from the official Advert.org Website: thehttp://www.avert.org/abc-hiv.htm
New York City AIDS Housing Network. (2008).MANDATORY MANAGED CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS ON MEDICAID? Retrieved September 11, 2009, from the official Website: http://www.nycahn.org/
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I am sorry to hear about your friend. It is nice to see that you have taken such an interest in he HIV/AIDS disease and I know that it is not only because you are taking this class. I understand how you feel about wanting to defend your friend. I mean when you look at people rather or not they have had unprotected sex before and majority of people have or rather rather they experimented in drugs nothing that they could have done would be bad enough for them to have contracted HIV/AIDS. I try not to look at it as people are being punished and I try to understand why things like this happen to people but to be honest with you and the rest of the world I have a very hard time wrapping my head around it. I am glad however that there are more and more programs forming to support people with the disease. I have not had the chance to go on the Advert site yet but I will.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Keep your friend encouraged and I will have her in my prayers.
I'm sorry to hear about your friend and I know it must be hard to cope with. My prayer's go out to you and her. It is not your friend's fault that your friend got this illness because surely whoever your friend got it from or wherever your friend got it from that if they were informed that they had HIV then your friend would had definetely been more careful in what was going on between them or their surroundings. I believe that one should always be faithful to their partner and to always use protection because thats how this illness can easily spread. Of course, one who is sexually active should get tested in a consistent basis to ensure themselves that they are clean. If you do have it then knowing this knowledge would make you take the necessary steps to stop any sexual activity. Hearing about stories like your friend make me very sad because I want everybody to be healthy and live a happy life without having the burden knowing they have a very dangerous illness inside them.
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