Lets be real

It seems as though the weeks are flying by and before we all know it this semester will be over. I know I'm ready for Thanksgiving. I can already taste the turkey and all the food that goes with it. Last week was interesting with the M&M simulation. First off I hate swallowing pills. I have always had a hard time swallowing them. I wasn't really bothered by scheduling taking them during the day or making sure I eat 3 meals a day that was the easy part. To imagine my life everyday like that having to swallow pills and even remember to take them on time is such a hassle. Let's just say I am more aware now about what people with HIV/AIDS go through on a daily basis, minus the real effects of the side effects that are associated with each pill. I do feel bad for them and that is something I would not wish on my worst enemy. On the other hand, I was thinking more about our QOTW and man can I tell you that that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Tracking people with HIV so that they don't spread it to other people...really is that what society has come to? In other places putting people with HIV in camps and isolating them from the rest of the population definitely sounds like a modern day holocaust to me. We need to learn from history that this never solves any problems it only creates more. Not only is it a violation of human rights it seems extremely unethical. I personally don't think the United States would implement something like this as President Obama just signed a law to undo the previous HIV travel ban. The future should be bright, looking forward to finding a cure not the negative.

22 years in the making

It seems that since I have started this class my thoughts are consumed by HIV. Every week I think about what if I was HIV+ or what if one of my friends told me they were HIV+. I never thought so much about a disease that I thought would never be in my life. I was reading some articles and I came across one that was rather interesting. President Obama lifted a 22 year travel ban for people with HIV to enter the United States. Obama said the restrictions were 'rooted in fear rather than fact' and it is encouraging that America has finally moved away from such discriminatory measures. (Avert 2009) I think is a very good move on the part of the President and the United States government. I don't think that it is right that countries discriminate against people with HIV because sometimes people get infected in difficult circumstances. If we discriminate against people with HIV then why don't we discriminate against people with cancer or other diseases. I hope that this step of travel bans on people with HIV sets an example for other countries that may have this ban too.

U.S to lift travel ban after 22 years (November 2, 2009) HIV and AIDS news. Retrieved November 4, 2009 from http://www.avert.org/aidsnews.htm

Keeps getting Real

Every week this class challenges my mind and my thinking. It always makes me wonder what if I had HIV and was living with it. How would I tell my family and would I even tell my friends or the person I'm involved with? It even takes me to real life situations of me having HIV and wanting to donate an organ to a family member and the doctors not let you. One day I would like to have children and this weeks question got me thinking because something like that could happen. Kids are going to be kids and they are going to bite each other and not think about it because that's what they do. As a parent I am sure it would be difficult to put your child in any school always knowing that something could happen and the principal or teachers think that the other children could be infected. Many of those thoughts are ignorance and that's where the parents need to educate the principal and the teachers. There is still in the back of your mind what if the other parents find out will they outcast your family and your child and not let them play with their kids. HIV is a disease that is never easy for anyone. Although now there are drugs that help you live longer it doesn't change the way people treat you and they way people look at you.


DID YOU KNOW........

Black and Hispanic women made up 83 percent of reported AIDS diagnoses among women, although they represent only 25 percent of all women, according to Fraser-Howze's New York-based commission. AIDS is among the three top causes of death for black women ages 35 to 44.

The Washington Post (February 7, 2005) U.S. HIV Cases Soaring Among Black Women. Retrieved October 28, 2009 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3318-2005Feb6.html

I'm Back!

What a crazy few weeks this has been. Sorry for not posting weekly but I was dropped from the class by financial aid....you know not enough money...anyway I'm back! I see that I have missed two good qotws but it's ok because I really enjoyed this one. I saw the episode of Private Practice that our weekly question is about and I have to admit that as I was watching it I thought that would be a great question of the week and if it isn't I am definitely going to put it in my blog. I thought the story of those two sisters was very touching. The sister that wanted to donate her kidney to her sister was a survivor of domestic violence and the sister that was sick was all that she had left to help her raise her kids. I understand why she wanted to give her sister the transplant because her being there for her was extremely important. I honestly don't think it's a bad thing to receive an organ from someone that is HIV+ especially if both parties are receptive. I know that doctors want to stop the spread of HIV, but even if it means saving a life? Maybe we should rethink some things in the medical community.

DID YOU KNOW........
African Americans have the highest AIDS case rate per 100,000 population of all ethnic/racial groups--66.4 per 100,000 population compared with 8.2 for whites.

National AIDS Education and Services for Minorities. HIV/AIDS Statistics. Retrieved October 21, 2009 from http://www.naesmonline.org/hiv_aidstats.htm

More to learn

Black people with AIDS don't live as long as people of other races and ethnic groups with AIDS due to poverty and negative stigmas in the community.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (25, August 2009) HIV/AIDS among African-Americans. Retrieved September 30, 2009 from www.cdc.gov

I really enjoyed the book The Naked Truth. I'm glad that I chose that book. I think it is very brave of anyone to write a story about themselves and put their status out to everyone. You never know if people are going to judge you or not, but it sure can help a lot of people. Everyday I learn new things about HIV in this class. After last week and talking to my friends about HIV it surprised me that they were somewhat educated about it. I really don't question people in my generation so much as I do with ones younger than me. Our society has become so sexual. Everything revolves around it from commercials to even sporting events. I don't think we could ever imagine our lives if it didn't revolve around sex. I see now that more people are aware that protect is key to keeping our species from killing itself. We are killing ourselves from spreading diseases to killing our environment. We have to take care of ourselves and this planet for future generations to live healthy and happy lives.

Out smarts us all

At the end of 2006 there were an estimated 1.1 million people living with HIV infection, of which almost half (46%) were black/African American. While blacks represent approximately 12 percent of the U.S. population, they continue to account for a higher proportion of cases at all stages of HIV/AIDS—from infection with HIV to death with AIDS—compared with members of other races and ethnicities.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (25, August 2009) HIV/AIDS among African-Americans. Retrieved September 23, 2009 from www.cdc.gov


Another week of learning new things. Module 2 was informative about the biological aspect of HIV. As a biology major it helped me understand how the virus works in your body. The immune system is a wonder in itself but HIV is tricky. It's like a master of disguise, it hides on other cells and lets your immune system kill itself. Its like HIV has a brain and it thinks about the best way to kill you. And for this virus to be so smart there is no known cure for it is even worse. I really hope that some time in the future we do find a cure for this virus. We have the best technology in the world I don't see why we can't outsmart a virus. But I know it's not that simple but it would be nice if it could be.
Oh yeah, so for assignment 3 I read the book "The Naked Truth" by Marvelyn Brown. I must say I am not a big reader but I would definitely recommend this book to any and everyone. As I was reading the book I began to see a little of myself in her. Her story is incredible. It's not like it's an extravagant story it's a story that almost everyone can relate to.

Education is Key

This is week 2 into our blogs and I have to say I have learned some very interesting things. In module 1 I learned a lot about the worldwide spread of HIV. i didn't really know that so many countries had a big problem. You see on t.v where they talk about Africa and the concern for their health but they never mention countries like Asia or even Europe. What really surprised me though was the large number of people in Florida living with HIV. I never knew that Florida had some of the highest numbers in the country. When people think of Florida they think old people, Disney World, and beaches not one of the top states of people infected with HIV and black people being the predominate race infected with HIV. Its is very scary because I am a black female and I fear for our younger generation who seem to be reckless and disregard the use of safe sex or even abstinence. Young girls are having babies at ages as young as 13 and 14 years old. I know exactly how they think, " I will never get HIV" but they are wrong. I think it is important that we do everything we can to teach them that safe sex is the best sex.


I found an amazing organization in Cape Town, South Africa called Hope Cape Town. They are dedicated to helping and teaching people with HIV/AIDS. They are a non-profit organization that raise money through their many corporate partners, private funding, and annual fundraisers. As I was reading their website I found something that really caught my attention. In South Africa many people still believe in traditional healing and consult Sangomas, traditional healers. Hope Cape Town realized that they needed to combat with the Sangomas in order to reach the people.
Hope Cape Town also offers free prevention classes that teach people the ABC's of prevention. They also give people food parcels. Many of the people living in that area are below the poverty line and can not afford food for their families. Hope Cape Town only gives food for temporary relief but they do not want people to become dependent on them. Hope Cape Town is doing so much for people in South Africa. Check out the website I was very impressed and hope that we have more organizations that not only help the people in the community but help them become independent and try to enrich the community itself.


http://www.h-o-p-e.net/

Just a little about me.....

My name is Desiree I am a junior at UCF and this also my first year at UCF. I love to play sports especially basketball. My major is biology/pre-professional and I plan to go to medical school and be an anesthesiologist. I picked this class because they told me I needed a certain amount of electives to graduate and this seemed fairly interesting. I'm hoping to learn alot about HIV/AIDS so that I can share what I have learned with people that I love so they can be aware of what is going on. Many people still are in the dark about this disease. I know I was although I have a family member that has AIDS. My family never really talked about it, it was like a subject that you just brush under the rug and forget it's there. But I am really hoping that what I learn from this class will help me be able to share information with them and educate them a little better.

A Cure In Sight?

According to medicalnews.com there may be hope for an effective vaccine for AIDS. Researchers working for the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) found two new antibodies from blood samples of infected people of developing countries. These antibodies are known as broadening neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that exploit a weak spot in HIV that could be helpful in creating a vaccine. (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163050.php)

This is very goo news for the world but more importantly those infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. Although it is only the beginning of testing for an effective vaccine it is still good news. There may be some glimpse of hope but we still need to be aware and still continue to educate people about the disease. I love how modern medicine continues to find new ways to help us.