Standing Strong
I am HIV positive. I am a father. I am a son. I am a brother. I am human and I have a name. I am not afraid of this illness. I will not go quietly into the dark. I will live with HIV for the rest of my life. There are millions of people in this country just like me and about 20% of them have no idea that they have HIV/AIDS.
Motivated for Mankind is here to fight the fight with you. We cannot do this alone. We need your help to build a community of WARRIORS. Because we are all WARRIORS. We are just starting out and hope to grow every day. Only in numbers can we all stand together and demand that something more be done, more research, more outreach, more choices.
We have a duty to our children and to their children to put a stop to HIV/AIDS NOW, so that they may live in an HIV free world.
Motivated for Mankind is here to fight the fight with you. We cannot do this alone. We need your help to build a community of WARRIORS. Because we are all WARRIORS. We are just starting out and hope to grow every day. Only in numbers can we all stand together and demand that something more be done, more research, more outreach, more choices.
We have a duty to our children and to their children to put a stop to HIV/AIDS NOW, so that they may live in an HIV free world.
HIV is a complex disease that continues to take its toll around the world. For those living with the disease, understanding it is key to staying healthy. For those of us who aren't infected, an important key to staying that way is to understand how the disease spreads from person to person. This feature presents ten facts about HIV that everyone should know.1. The Biology of HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV); the epidemic of the 20th Century. But what exactly is HIV and what does it do to our bodies? Understanding HIV could mean the difference between being infected or not infected; the difference between being healthy and being sick
2. HIV Transmission - How Does it Happen? In the beginning, people believed HIV was limited to one group of people: gay men. Obviously we now know that isn't true at all. We know that anyone can be infected with HIV if precautions are not taken. But in order to know which precautions to take, we must know how HIV is spread from person to person.
3. Who Can Get Infected with HIV? The simple answer to this question is: anyone can get infected with HIV if they're exposed to it. People from all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations can get the virus. Young, old, teens, babies, married and single; in short, we are all at risk if we don't take the proper precautions. How do people get infected? Among other ways, babies born to HIV-infected women can, anyone who has sex with an infected person can, people who share needles with an infected person can, or someone who's received a transfusion from an un-screened blood supply can.
4. People are Still Dying from HIV and AIDS In the developed countries of the world, great strides have been made, and as a result fewer people are dying of HIV-related illnesses. However, in some parts of the world; in countries where resources for education, prevention, and treatment are limited, people are still dying. These numbers show just how many.
5. People are Living - Thanks to HIV Medications People are living near-normal life spans despite being infected with HIV. Over the years, medications have come and gone; being in and out of favor or replaced by newer, more effective and easier-to-take combinations. With these meds, people are living long, healthy lives. Take a look at the current list of HIV drugs available.
6. PEPFAR is Helping People Around the World Live with HIV The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is what some believe to be President George W. Bush's most worthwhile accomplishment as President. The funding provided by PEPFAR has arguably saved millions of lives around the world. Let's get the lowdown on PEPFAR.
7. Breastfeeding and HIV Just Don't Mix The benefits of breastfeeding are undisputed, but unfortunately women who are living with HIV should not breastfeed; the risk to their babies is just too high. For some women, though, there is no choice. Without clean water or resources for baby formula, breast feeding is the only option; a fact that has contributed to the HIV problem in places like Sub-Sahara Africa. Click through to read why breastfeeding with HIV is so risky.
8. Mother-to-Baby Transmission Can Be Avoided HIV transmission from mother to unborn child is relatively common if steps aren't taken to decrease that risk. In fact, without proper prenatal and postnatal care of mother and baby, the infection rate is about 1 in 4. Luckily, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of HIV transmission during pregnancy dramatically.
9. HIV and Tuberculosis - A Deadly Combination
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that is spread from person to person through the air, and it is particularly dangerous for people infected with HIV. Tuberculosis and HIV is a deadly combination. In fact, worldwide TB is the leading cause of death among people infected with HIV. Find out more about why TB is so deadly; especially when combined with HIV.
10. Great News - HIV Can Be Prevented!
The correct and consistent use of latex condoms during sexual intercourse- vaginal, anal, or oral-can greatly reduce a person's risk of acquiring or transmitting most STDs, including HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas, human papilloma virus infection (HPV), and hepatitis B.
2. HIV Transmission - How Does it Happen? In the beginning, people believed HIV was limited to one group of people: gay men. Obviously we now know that isn't true at all. We know that anyone can be infected with HIV if precautions are not taken. But in order to know which precautions to take, we must know how HIV is spread from person to person.
3. Who Can Get Infected with HIV? The simple answer to this question is: anyone can get infected with HIV if they're exposed to it. People from all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations can get the virus. Young, old, teens, babies, married and single; in short, we are all at risk if we don't take the proper precautions. How do people get infected? Among other ways, babies born to HIV-infected women can, anyone who has sex with an infected person can, people who share needles with an infected person can, or someone who's received a transfusion from an un-screened blood supply can.
4. People are Still Dying from HIV and AIDS In the developed countries of the world, great strides have been made, and as a result fewer people are dying of HIV-related illnesses. However, in some parts of the world; in countries where resources for education, prevention, and treatment are limited, people are still dying. These numbers show just how many.
5. People are Living - Thanks to HIV Medications People are living near-normal life spans despite being infected with HIV. Over the years, medications have come and gone; being in and out of favor or replaced by newer, more effective and easier-to-take combinations. With these meds, people are living long, healthy lives. Take a look at the current list of HIV drugs available.
6. PEPFAR is Helping People Around the World Live with HIV The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is what some believe to be President George W. Bush's most worthwhile accomplishment as President. The funding provided by PEPFAR has arguably saved millions of lives around the world. Let's get the lowdown on PEPFAR.
7. Breastfeeding and HIV Just Don't Mix The benefits of breastfeeding are undisputed, but unfortunately women who are living with HIV should not breastfeed; the risk to their babies is just too high. For some women, though, there is no choice. Without clean water or resources for baby formula, breast feeding is the only option; a fact that has contributed to the HIV problem in places like Sub-Sahara Africa. Click through to read why breastfeeding with HIV is so risky.
8. Mother-to-Baby Transmission Can Be Avoided HIV transmission from mother to unborn child is relatively common if steps aren't taken to decrease that risk. In fact, without proper prenatal and postnatal care of mother and baby, the infection rate is about 1 in 4. Luckily, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of HIV transmission during pregnancy dramatically.
9. HIV and Tuberculosis - A Deadly Combination
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that is spread from person to person through the air, and it is particularly dangerous for people infected with HIV. Tuberculosis and HIV is a deadly combination. In fact, worldwide TB is the leading cause of death among people infected with HIV. Find out more about why TB is so deadly; especially when combined with HIV.
10. Great News - HIV Can Be Prevented!
The correct and consistent use of latex condoms during sexual intercourse- vaginal, anal, or oral-can greatly reduce a person's risk of acquiring or transmitting most STDs, including HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas, human papilloma virus infection (HPV), and hepatitis B.
QUICK QUIZ. How much do you really know about HIV/AIDS?
1. Do you know anyone infected with HIV?
2. List 4 methods of contracting HIV?
3. Where have you received education on HIV?
4. Do you consider yourself at risk of contracting HIV?
5. How often do you see or hear information on HIV, compared to cancer, diabetes, MS, etc?
6. Name the top 5 groups at risk for contracting HIV?
7. How many people in the U.S., do you believe have HIV?
8. How frequent do you think people contract HIV in the U.S.?
9. Can you survive HIV/AIDS?
10. If infected who would you tell, if anyone?
Please share this with others in order to help educate them and stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.
2. List 4 methods of contracting HIV?
3. Where have you received education on HIV?
4. Do you consider yourself at risk of contracting HIV?
5. How often do you see or hear information on HIV, compared to cancer, diabetes, MS, etc?
6. Name the top 5 groups at risk for contracting HIV?
7. How many people in the U.S., do you believe have HIV?
8. How frequent do you think people contract HIV in the U.S.?
9. Can you survive HIV/AIDS?
10. If infected who would you tell, if anyone?
Please share this with others in order to help educate them and stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.