Tuesday, December 1, 2009

World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day.
No matter how much I think, I cannot say anything 'new' on this subject, because what has to be told has been told time & again.
Here are some international statistics about this deadly disease:

People living with HIV:

  • 33.4 million people living with HIV worldwide
  • 31.3 million adults
  • 15.7 million women
  • 2.1 million children under 15

New HIV cases in 2007:

  • 2.7 million people
  • 2.3 million adults
  • 430,000 children under 15

HIV-related deaths in 2007:

  • 2 million total deaths

Everybody knows the saying 'Prevention is better than cure.' But what makes AIDS so deadly is the fact that once you contract the virus, you can never be cured. So cure is not an option here. Only prevention.

What can we do here?
To help ourselves- Firstly, know the basics. The nature of the virus, how it spreads etc. If you're getting tattooed, check that the tattoo artist opens up a new needle in front of you. Don't share syringes. And most importantly, DO NOT have unprotected sex. Stay monogamous, do not have multiple partners. Insist that you would-be spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend get an HIV test done. But you already knew this stuff, didn't you?
To help others- The whole point of World AIDS day is AIDS awareness & wearing the AIDS ribbon to show your support for people who are HIV+ve.
We should not alienate them but instead make them feel accepted in society.
Cheers,
By Magali at 2:00 AM
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8 views/opinions shared:

  1. Tattooing and blood transfusion are the root causes in aquiring HIV virus these days.I personally know a person who fell a victim to blood transfusion.

    These statistics are sure scary!Thank you for sharing the info.
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  2. @British Thoughts- Let me be very honest with you. Tattooing & Blood Transfusion can spread AIDS, but they are definitely not the root causes. I myself have 3 tattoos, but I got them done from a reputed & expensive guys who opened up the new needles in front of me. Blood Transfusion can be more dangerous, cause the AIDS virus remains in the blood. But otherwise, the virus cannot survive for more than a few minutes outside it's host (i.e. on a needle)
    Unprotected sex is the absolute root cause of AIDS. It spreads through that medium in more than 90%-95% of cases. That's why there are so many activists & famous people trying to educate people to always use a condom.
    Your welcome about the info.
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  3. I agree with you 100%.What I implied was that these days whith more and more people becoming aware of the sexual aspect behind the spread of the HIV virus,more precauitions including condomization are taken.

    But awareness has not yet fully spread regrading the usage of sterile needles in tattooing and blood transfusion.

    "AIDS - use condoms"-Almost everyone knows this slogan.Many are still illiterate regarding the spread of HIV through other means.

    Perhaps I shouldn't have used the word "root" :P
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  4. Well said.. i am glad that people are getting a good info on dos and don'ts off late. Good informative post with numbers Mag!
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  5. Magali...very informative post. It's scary how little awareness some people have. We assume people know they need to wear a condom...but in reality, they don't. Lots of young people I see for therapy don't wear condoms because it doesn't feel right! They live in this world that "nothing bad can happen to me" Education and increasing awareness is the key!

    By the way...Matt...I had to giggle at the choice of words...here in Australia 'root' also means to sleep with someone! Sorry...my mind just went there...what with the context and everything...
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  6. @Matt- I honestly didn't know that 'condomization' was a word!

    @Mohan- Thank You

    @Psych Babbler- Thank You. Must be scaring you to actually find out the mistakes tat people make first hand, right?
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  7. @Magali : Now you got me confused,I guess it's a word,I've heard it before though.

    @Psych Babbler : And I thought I was familiar with the Aussie slangs,watching Chasers and Sea Patrol and everything :P http://bit.ly/8FShZm - Now will remember that!:) Maybe I should start following @AussieSlang on twitter ! :D
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  8. Quite frankly Magali, "We should not alienate them but instead make them feel accepted in society" I do not agree. No, I am not being ignorant. The virus does not spread by being in their vicinity, touching or even kissing them, but the mental anguish they cause to their own people is unacceptable. They donate blood and this blood ruins someone else's life too (of course, the doctors are also to blame for the lack of thought). For those who have acquired it of their own deeds, "it is all their fault." For the rest, the statement I have quoted hold beautifully well. I know I am being very harsh, perhaps rude as well, but I cannot take it when the deeds of one person dooms everyone's else's life in the family.
    ReplyDelete

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