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.