I had a busy week! Maybe it is because it's the holiday season but there are so many awareness events and races going on. I went to this event called the Margarita Ball over the weekend and I met someone that worked with Breast Cancer Awareness campaigning. He was passing out band aids with the pink ribbon on it, and it got my mind thinking. Why don’t we have band aids with the red ribbon? Especially because the way HIV is contracted I believe we could use the band aid to educate children about HIV. Maybe a campaign for HIV within the elementary schools could be passion out the band aids with the red ribbon. Just some thoughts I had.
Also, maybe it was just because I was not really paying attention but I completely forgot about the AIDS campaign GAP does. The funny thing is that when I lived in NYC, there was a GAP right next door. I walked by it every day and never took the time to really see what they were promoting. The red shirts were pretty much just a fashion statement.
The QOTW this week really made me think about this semester. I was shocked to see how many people have contracted HIV from the beginning of the semester. This just further proved how much we need to be getting involved and educating about how HIV is contracted!
DID YOU KNOW
Did you know that on July 28, 2009 Katy Pery put a on a (RED) concert where all the ticket precedes went to Africa to help HIV/AIDS patients. It is great to see artist getting involved in helping prevent HIV or any cancer or disease. Gap (RED)’s campaign started with the INSPI(RED) Gap T-shirt made in Africa. Half the profits from GAP sales go to The Global Fun to help women and children affected by AIDS in Africa.
http://www.gapinc.com/public/OurBrands/brands_gapred.shtml
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Blog #11
Wow. I have had quite a few weeks. I actually had to quit my job in order to deal with my 19 credit hours and graduation. I'm trying to get my resume together to send out to hospitals and offices to hopefully get a job after graduation in December. After doing the simulation and after thinking about how much I have on my plate right now that I had to quit my job, I could not IMAGINE really throwing HIV into the mix of my crazy life. This week I have learned that "Knowledge is Power" is not acceptable phrase anymore. Especially when it is not working. Many thought that if people were knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS the transmission would decrease. This has not happened yet. A reason I believe that Americans are so naive to HIV is because they were never educated about it at an early age. Our mines our sculpted at a very young age, and the things that we still value and think are important are the things we were required to take. If HIV/AIDS awareness was required to learn in middle school or high school, I think that more people would be interested and willing to have a opinion on the topic. When American's believe in something they are willing to voice their opinion. We need this to happen in order to slow the transmission rate.
I also believe in organization trying to promote awareness in HIV. I am excited to say that I am currently trying to pursue a job with the MAC AIDS organization. I have always admired non-profit organizations and now that I have become so passionate about finding a cure for HIV I don't attend to sit around and wait for someone else to do it.
DID YOU KNOW:
According to Avert.org, "It is widely accepted that young people have a right to sex education. This is because it is a means by which they are helped to protect themselves against abuse, exploitation, unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV and AIDS" (Avert.org, 2009). If this is the truth then WHY AREN'T WE TEACHING?? This day in age is unlike the past. Our young adults know more than most generations ever had. Yes, they are fragile minds, but they deserve to know the truth and what can happen. HIV/AIDS is a very serious issue that need to me addressed at a young age. That is why I believe it is important for young people to be required to learn about it. Also Avert.org says, "Young people get information about sex and sexuality from a wide range of sources including each other, through the media including advertising, television and magazines, as well as leaflets, books and websites (such as www.avert.org) which are intended to be sources of information about sex and sexuality. Some of this will be accurate and some inaccurate" (Avert.org, 2009). With saying this, why should we not educate the TRUTH about HIV/AIDS at a young age before they can hear any myths or discriminatory information.
I also believe in organization trying to promote awareness in HIV. I am excited to say that I am currently trying to pursue a job with the MAC AIDS organization. I have always admired non-profit organizations and now that I have become so passionate about finding a cure for HIV I don't attend to sit around and wait for someone else to do it.
DID YOU KNOW:
According to Avert.org, "It is widely accepted that young people have a right to sex education. This is because it is a means by which they are helped to protect themselves against abuse, exploitation, unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV and AIDS" (Avert.org, 2009). If this is the truth then WHY AREN'T WE TEACHING?? This day in age is unlike the past. Our young adults know more than most generations ever had. Yes, they are fragile minds, but they deserve to know the truth and what can happen. HIV/AIDS is a very serious issue that need to me addressed at a young age. That is why I believe it is important for young people to be required to learn about it. Also Avert.org says, "Young people get information about sex and sexuality from a wide range of sources including each other, through the media including advertising, television and magazines, as well as leaflets, books and websites (such as www.avert.org) which are intended to be sources of information about sex and sexuality. Some of this will be accurate and some inaccurate" (Avert.org, 2009). With saying this, why should we not educate the TRUTH about HIV/AIDS at a young age before they can hear any myths or discriminatory information.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Blog #11
This week I am DRAINED!!!! This simulation took it out of me. Having to take 35 pills a day was not only inconvenient but hard. I hate swallowing things in the first place, but I really wanted to act like it was a matter of life or death. Whenever I told friends what I was doing they thought it was ridiculous, and to be honest when I first joined this class and looked at all the assignments, I thought the simulation was crazy. But after going through this class, and learning everything I have, I think it really forced me to live the life of an AIDS patient. Even with learning and reading about having HIV, no one can really understand what it's like to have it until they do. This simulation gave me a slight glimpse of what it would be like to have AIDS.
DID YOU KNOW:
One thing that I have realized through out this class, articles I've read, modules I've done is that our prevention methods have not really worked. New ideas are forming such as the needle exchanged program, but what will really work? The question was asked whether I thought having a microchip implanted in HIV+ patients to track their actions was ethical and I completely believe that it is against anything I believe in. Yes, it could help slow transmission rates, but what would be giving up for that, our freedom. The United States stands proud on our independence. According to Avert.org, "The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report in 2004 that reviewed the effectiveness of needle exchange programmes in many countries, and whether they promoted or prolonged illicit drug use; the results produced convincing evidence that needle exchange programmes significantly reduce HIV infection, and no evidence that they encourage drug use" (Avert, 2009). The first time I heard of this program, I immediatly thought that is was not a good idea because it was promoting drug use. After doing some research on it, I think it is actually a good idea. One thing I have seen is that people that are going to do drugs will find a way. I will compare it to using a condom. Does giving out free condoms promote sex? I believe that offering free needle exchange will help the transmission of AIDS and will not encourage drug exchange, but promote safety.
Needle exchange and harm reduction. (2009). Retrieved September 10, 2009, from the official Advert.org Website: http://avert.org/needle-exchange.htm
DID YOU KNOW:
One thing that I have realized through out this class, articles I've read, modules I've done is that our prevention methods have not really worked. New ideas are forming such as the needle exchanged program, but what will really work? The question was asked whether I thought having a microchip implanted in HIV+ patients to track their actions was ethical and I completely believe that it is against anything I believe in. Yes, it could help slow transmission rates, but what would be giving up for that, our freedom. The United States stands proud on our independence. According to Avert.org, "The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report in 2004 that reviewed the effectiveness of needle exchange programmes in many countries, and whether they promoted or prolonged illicit drug use; the results produced convincing evidence that needle exchange programmes significantly reduce HIV infection, and no evidence that they encourage drug use" (Avert, 2009). The first time I heard of this program, I immediatly thought that is was not a good idea because it was promoting drug use. After doing some research on it, I think it is actually a good idea. One thing I have seen is that people that are going to do drugs will find a way. I will compare it to using a condom. Does giving out free condoms promote sex? I believe that offering free needle exchange will help the transmission of AIDS and will not encourage drug exchange, but promote safety.
Needle exchange and harm reduction. (2009). Retrieved September 10, 2009, from the official Advert.org Website: http://avert.org/needle-exchange.htm
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Blog # 9
As this semester comes to an end, I cannot believe all that I have accomplished in this class. Not just talking about the excessive amount of work, but all that I have learned. Thinking back, I wonder if I would have taken this class if I knew of the work load. This would have been a great class to take if I had a lighter load of classes, or even if some of the classes I were taking were electives. Since this was my one elective course, I do not know if I would have taken this again. Do not get me wrong, it is VERY informative and I learned a lot, but I found myself struggling repeatedly throughout the week to get everything done for this class, let alone my other 5 classes.
I think out of all the QOTW questions we have had this one was the hardest for me to answer. According to the book AIDS: The Biological Basis, "Without an animal model, researchers cannot predict whether an experimental vaccine might work on humans" (Weeks, 2010). I am not saying that I think Chimps deserve to die to help humans live, but I would rather have a cure to help the human race then to jeopardize the life of a human to find out more about HIV.
I think the hardest thing I've had to do this semester is the M&M simulation. Trying to take all these drugs in one day, remembering which ones to take at what time and if you have to take it with food is almost impossible. My first day I failed horribly. First off, I rarely eat 3 meals, and if I do its not morning, afternoon, and night. So trying to take certain drugs on an empty stomach, some right before I eat, and some with food was my biggest challenge. I did not have time to worry what people were thinking, because I was trying so hard to remember to take them period.
Weeks, Benjamin S., Alcamo, Edward I. (2010). AIDS: The Biological Basis (Fifth Edition). Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Did you Know
The URL , is of U.S. President Barack Obama making a speech of his signing into law an extension of the Ryan White CARE Act, "which provides critical funding to HIV/AIDS service organizations throughout the United States" (). In this speech, Obama addressed the current state of HIV in the United States spoke candidly about the current state of HIV in the U.S., and also "announced that the last vestige of the U.S.'s 22-year-old ban on HIV-positive people entering the country was about to vanish" (). This should go into effect in January 2010. The ban was suppose to be a prevention method, but the question that arises is how do you know whether a person entering our country is really HIV positive?
AIDSinfonet.(2009)."Obama Announces Ryan White CARE Act Reauthorization, Elimination of HIV Travel Ban". The Body: The complete HIV/AIDS Guide. http://www.thebody.com/content/govt/art54235.html
I think out of all the QOTW questions we have had this one was the hardest for me to answer. According to the book AIDS: The Biological Basis, "Without an animal model, researchers cannot predict whether an experimental vaccine might work on humans" (Weeks, 2010). I am not saying that I think Chimps deserve to die to help humans live, but I would rather have a cure to help the human race then to jeopardize the life of a human to find out more about HIV.
I think the hardest thing I've had to do this semester is the M&M simulation. Trying to take all these drugs in one day, remembering which ones to take at what time and if you have to take it with food is almost impossible. My first day I failed horribly. First off, I rarely eat 3 meals, and if I do its not morning, afternoon, and night. So trying to take certain drugs on an empty stomach, some right before I eat, and some with food was my biggest challenge. I did not have time to worry what people were thinking, because I was trying so hard to remember to take them period.
Weeks, Benjamin S., Alcamo, Edward I. (2010). AIDS: The Biological Basis (Fifth Edition). Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Did you Know
The URL , is of U.S. President Barack Obama making a speech of his signing into law an extension of the Ryan White CARE Act, "which provides critical funding to HIV/AIDS service organizations throughout the United States" (). In this speech, Obama addressed the current state of HIV in the United States spoke candidly about the current state of HIV in the U.S., and also "announced that the last vestige of the U.S.'s 22-year-old ban on HIV-positive people entering the country was about to vanish" (). This should go into effect in January 2010. The ban was suppose to be a prevention method, but the question that arises is how do you know whether a person entering our country is really HIV positive?
AIDSinfonet.(2009)."Obama Announces Ryan White CARE Act Reauthorization, Elimination of HIV Travel Ban". The Body: The complete HIV/AIDS Guide. http://www.thebody.com/content/govt/art54235.html
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