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Months ago i was working on a video when i got to a point in editing that i have to insert a sound track and so i have search for more than just what i have, so started looking then i came across this sound track and it inspired me to do a short video. even though i am not that good i came up with something which i will want to hear your views about.
please drop me a comment so i could be able to take corrections
The Ministry of Educations says “No to condom in Schools.” I beg to differ. Yes to Condoms in Schools…..
By now we must all be aware of the National Family Planning Board (NFPB) and National HIV/STI merger to form the national authority for sexual and reproductive health. While it is a good move to have the merger, we are now faced with the question, will these two entities — now made one — make more success in its endeavour, and what about the rights component associated with sexual reproductive health?
One of the issues that this authority needs to examine is the debate on whether condoms should be distributed in schools or not. In order to tackle this correctly, the first step that must be taken is for us to scrutinise the readiness of individuals at this age to be engaging in sexual encounters.
There needs to be greater transparency in the age at which one can start engaging in sex and the age at which one can access sexual reproductive services. At present, it is 16 years old and 18 years old respectively. This is contradictory, but the sad reality is, it is our law, so we have to abide by it or else we know the result will be jail time or be fined large sums of money when brought before the courts. There have been several consultations over the years with the relevant authorities involved; however, we are yet to see any real change with regards to having consistency in light of this discrepancy.
Let us examine the pros and cons of distributing contraceptives in schools moreso condoms. Many argue that if this is done we are sending a strong message to children that they should be engaging in sexual activities at their young age, even though they are not emotionally ready for this act. How many of the children in schools are married? Well, we have to take into consideration the moral standing of most of the country being Christians, and we all know that it is a sinful act to be engaging in sex before marriage.
When last did you stop to check the statistics as it relates to teenage pregnancy? The last time I did, it still showed Jamaica having one of the highest in the region. What about that for HIV and other STIs? The 14-24 age groups have the highest rates in the total population. This should not be the case, but it is a reality that these unwanted diseases and pregnancies are occurring among our young people. How else can we deal with this in our society but to distribute condoms to students to rid the society of these unwanted actions? This should always be a last resort, but if the family was playing its role and educating children from within the home from an early age about sex, then the school wouldn’t have to be faced with this burden.
At the end of the day, we should also be advocating for comprehensive sex education in schools. Not only should we teach about abstinence — which is the greatest prevention strategy — but for those who are involved already there needs to be intervention strategy, and this can come in the form of condom distribution to protect these students against unwanted pregnancies and diseases. There should also be a supportive component which can come through counselling and effective referral services where needed. Students have the ability to make informed decisions and should be trusted in taking on this role at times.
Jason Madden
IYSO Council Member
http://reproductiverightsunsw.tumblr.com/post/50247350365
I visited unicef Jamaica\’s website this morning and came across this post in their media center, it spoke to the reality of so many Jamaican youth.
Shevon Davis is an adolescent from Trench Town, Kingston. He spoke at the International AIDS Conference on July 23rd in Washington D.C in a session entitled:Young and Restless Youth Leadership. Shevon spoke about his generation in the age of HIV and AIDS:
Good morning everyone. It is so good to be here this morning to talk about how my generation is dealing with HIV prevention.Â
I have come here from Jamaica, where I live in Trench Town, aninner-city community in the capital of Kingston.
You may have heard about Trench Town from the music of the great Bob Marley, because this is where he lived and spent his early years as a musician.
A lot has changed in Trench Town since the days when Bob lived there. But it is still a rough place to grow up. Poverty is a serious issue. Some people can’t find food to eat and clothes to wear. People do all kinds of things to survive. Young people have to learn to hustle to help their mothers, fathers and grandmothers make ends meet. Often they don’t have their parents around to guide them in a positive way.
Life is hard in so many ways in my community – and in other inner-city communities too – and these hardships have a lot to do with the choices we make as young people.
Getting caught in gang violence, people having sex for money, dropping out of school, becoming a teen mother or father because of early and unprotected sex – these things are a reality every day.Â
So with all these challenges, how do young people feel about HIV?
What are they doing about HIV prevention? Â
I asked 20 people in my community about their status and when they last got tested. Out of the 20, everyone told me they were HIV negative. Despite this, only three of them got tested in the last 12 months and surprisingly 4 persons had never even been tested before.
There was a time when HIV was seen as a matter for much concern, but it seems those days are behind us. Nowadays many young people – like the ones I surveyed – see themselves as “untouchable” as far as HIV is concerned. The truth is that young people in my community are more worried about early pregnancy than HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. We are afraid of the public shame of an early pregnancy; especially the girls.Â
HIV is mostly seen as a condition that can be treated; if you can get the drugs that reduce the symptoms so that no one knows you have it. And young people know that you can live a long and healthy life with HIV. Thankfully, for those who are positive, this is true. But in Trench Town, like in many other places, this means that young people don’t care as much as they should about HIV prevention.
This is a major problem since having multiple partners is a norm for young people in Jamaica. There is pressure to have sex everywhere. A lot of the pressure is from older men and women. And it is often harder for boys. Having one sexual partner in my community, and I dare say throughout the country, is a huge taskfor a young man. It is encouraged and expected that you will have many partners before you are ready to “settle down”. It is a sign of manhood for a man to be sexually active with more than one girl.
In Jamaica, the mean age for first sexual intercourse is 13 years for boys and 15 years for girls. These practices are not new.  It is the norm.
How can we take on these challenges and make the breakthrough we need for my generation?
Jamaica’s Ministry of Health has done good work to ensure that condom use advertisements are on radio and television. However, many young people see these ads and they don’t make much of a difference in their thinking or their behaviours. They seem to have gotten tired of this message. How can we make condom use more important to them?
I think many of the things that are being done have been done for a long time, without a fresh approach. Because of this, it seems that there is no urgency anymore. Young people like me know that HIV will be around for a long time and with medication available, it is no longer treated as an emergency.
Therefore, my generation has accepted this as the truth.  We have become comfortable and other issues have taken priority in our lives.
One of the first things we have to do in getting young people to care is to open up and talk. When I participated in an HIV prevention intervention in my community, it made me really think about the risks of becoming infected and how to lower them. I was able to talk through the issues with other young people who come from the same place and face the same issues that I face.
I got the chance to feel as if I was a part of something. I got a chance to hear that my friends were having similar struggles as I was. I got a chance to hear how they felt about a number of things, including but not limited to HIV. We simply did not talk to each other about these things in everyday conversation.
For young people, the importance of having the space to talk through the issues with people we relate to cannot be overlooked. The space does not have to be a workshop or a building. There are already places where we gather naturally, like on corners – but often there is no-one there to guide a discussion on HIV.
Remember too that talk is not only face to face for us. More and more, we are talking online at Internet cafes and on smart phones, which are very popular. There is a lot of unsafe activity that happens in these spaces and there is no way for parents to know or police these interactions.Â
Creating opportunities for interaction and real participation so that those who plan FOR us can actually plan WITH us. This is still important. But our participation has to be meaningful – and not as we say in Jamaica – “a bag a mouth”, which means there is all talk, and no action. Our engagement should be on-going and when necessary, it should be publicised so that others in the same situations realize that we are, in fact, part of the discussion or solution.
My experience has taught me that there is also a need to get condoms into more non-traditional outlets in communities, where young people can access them without judgement.Â
Very importantly, to reduce the risk of infection, young people need skills training and jobs. So to focus on HIV alone is not enough. There must be a more comprehensive or “whole person” approach to HIV prevention.
I now feel empowered to bring information to my peers. I know there is much more work to be done in my community. I know that there are a lot of young people who may be HIV positive and not know it. There are also a lot who are thinking of becoming or they are already sexually active, who have not thought about the risks involved. Because of how much I learned through the intervention in Trench Town, I am happy for the opportunity to be part of the solution.
I thank you for your kind attention.
You could qualify for FREE birth control (what better way to celebrate National Women’s Health Week?). Find out here and spread the word to your lady friends.
Last week, governments from around the world met at the United Nations for the 46th Commission on Population and Development (CPD). Throughout the week-long deliberations, governments, UN agencies, demographers, and NGOs debated the topic of migration and its relationship to the 1994 ICPD Programme of Action—a groundbreaking declaration which signaled a major shift in population policy from one based on population control to one based on human rights, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH).
What’s migration got to do with sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), you ask? Well, just about everything.
Today, more women are migrating than ever before, representing nearly half of the total international migrant population, and in some countries, as much as 70 to 80 percent. And young migrants under the age of 29 make up half of all global migrants. During the process of migration, women and girls tend to be more vulnerable to human rights violations, particularly SRHR violations, including violence, exploitation, and sexual coercion. Moreover, migrant women and young people are also at increased risk of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections due to inadequate access to health services, including SRH services. As a result, ensuring access to SRHR information and services and protection of women’s and young people’s rights was our number one goal at the CPD.
So, how’d we do? Well, this year’s CPD proved interesting, to say the least. Traditionally progressive countries that fight every year to advance SRHR found themselves in a bit of a pickle given their countries’ rather regressive migration policies. Against the backdrop of comprehensive immigration reform playing out on Capitol Hill, the US delegation—typically a stalwart champion of young people’s SRHR and LGBT rights—sought to include language restricting access to non-emergency services to only those migrants who are documented or in legal status. The same was true for other Global North countries like the UK, Canada, Denmark, and the EU. At the same time, conservative countries with strong religious views (think Nigeria, Egypt, Qatar, Honduras, Malta, and Poland) joined forces with the Holy See (aka, the Vatican) to denounce any inclusion of SRHR or sexual orientation and gender identity. Discussions grew more and more tense by the day, resulting in an eventual breakdown of the negotiations and a final “take it or leave it” declaration drafted by the chair of the commission.
From a youth SRHR perspective, the declaration is just so-so. Here’s my take on it.
The Good:
The Bad:
And the Ugly:
After a groundbreaking resolution on adolescents and young people at last year’s CPD, we’ve certainly got our work cut out for us to ensure young people’s rights are front and center in the 20-year review of the ICPD in 2014 and in the post-2015 development agenda. We simply cannot afford to go backwards; we need forward progress if we are ever to see the full implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action.
Jamaica has done it again. In an effort to turn the volume up against the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country, renowned vocalist and actress Sheryl Lee Ralph was introduced as the newest ambassador to help in this venture. Â
The Ministry of Health was instrumental in inviting the Jamaican born now Hollywood star to get on board and had a launch on Tuesday April 23, 2013. This reception saw several stakeholders attending to welcome the CEO of Diva Foundation – Lee Ralph.Â
The Minister of Health, Dr. Fenton Ferguson was very keen in his greetings and stated that “The disease was seen as a death sentence, no longer today as we have ART and support from Global fund, World Bank and PEPFAR. We now need to see how we can sustain these improvements with HIV/AIDS. Jamaica is amongst the first country to be looking at sustainable study in regards to HIV/AIDS.” He further went on to say that there is unity with the political parties, civil society and private sector and therefore nothing can stop us now. “HIV/AIDS as a developmental issue must now be treated in that way.”
Ms. Denise Herbol, Mission Director of USAID uttered firm words and reinforced that Partnership amongst all sectors will help us to achieve an AIDS free generation.
The JaBCHA Foundation was one of the key partners’ at this event and its Managing Director, Mr. Earl Moore beckoned that stigma still exists, especially amongst church people. “Private sector is not doing enough and again I will emphasize the churches are not doing enough and it is embarrassing.”
AIDS Healthcare Foundation was in attendance as well and its Southern Bureau Chief, Mr. Michael Kahane brought greetings from his organization. “This country is blessed with the willingness to accept new ideas. As the largest HIV/AIDS organization in the world we are happy to be on board with Jamaica.”
Ms Sheryl Lee Ralph with her melodic singing began her presentation “I am an endangered spices … I am a woman, I am an artist and I know where my voice belongs.” “Jamaica now is the time, you saw us light that fire earlier, you should take action and start talking about sex. We are going to love our children more by talking to them about sex and inform them about abstinence. We can and must do better when it comes to HIV/AIDS, it is everyone’s problem. Get involve, get inform, get proper information. I talk about condoms too, use them! I know you are saying it doesn’t feel good, well HIV doesn’t either. The number one reason most persons don’t talk about their status is because they don’t know their status. “Get tested!” 15-49 age groups are carrying the burden of this disease. “Get tested!” “I love you, God does not make mistakes.” Â
Ashe ensemble did performance from beating of drums, singing and dancing and had those in attendances wowed by the high energy that they end on and showed that young people are indeed creative and can make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Â Â
This is truly a step in the right direction for Jamaica as it increases awareness on HIV/AIDS. People should become inform and stay in the know. There should be no more stigma and discrimination towards people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
Â
Jason Madden
IYSO Council Member Â
Hi!
My name is Karachi and I am here to share with you the wondrously-baffling gospel of Tyler Perry. Ladies, Mr. Perry would like you to know that if you cheat on your God-fearing, hardworking, high school sweetheart husband, you WILL feel the wrath of the almighty. This wrath will come in the form of HIV, which will be transmitted by the most evil man ever – the HIV-positive, craptastic, psycho of a man whom no woman would fall for…unless of course she was a character in a Tyler Perry movie. â€Cos we all know that women, black women, are just spineless, money-grubbing hos who destroy perfect marriages and are only brave enough to pour a pot of hot grits on an abusive husband when Madea tells us to.
It is QUITE interesting to see how Perry chose to portray HIV-positive people in 2013. It is especially interesting considering that the immigration and travel ban on HIV-positive people was only lifted 3 years ago, and that the International AIDS conference was finally held in the US again after 22 years as a result of this lift. So imagine how it feels, after all this progress, to have Mr. Perry come along with this epic fail of a movie. No seriously, even if you take away the HIV stigma, and the ridiculous characters who must only exist in the alternate universe contained solely in Tyler Perry’s mind, the movie still blows. I am hopeful that Tyler Perry or one of his employees will see this post, and offer me my $10.50 back, along with their sincere apologies for the atrocities inflicted on my mind and eyes.
I tried unsuccessfully, to vlog about this travesty of a movie, but failed. I failed because the entire time I sat there laughing in incredulity or with this expression on my face.
 
It was just difficult to flow from point to point without veering off into head-shaking and other assorted expressions of disgust.
So let’s talk about some of the other things that went on in the movie. Warning, there are spoilers ahead as I have to divulge some of the plot in order to create an understanding of the issues I am discussing.
The main character, Judith, is a young woman who has recently moved to DC with her husband; an equally religious man whom she has known since she was young. She dreams of becoming a marriage counsellor, but is working as a counsellor at a matchmaking agency owned by Vanessa fake-French-accent Williams. One day, a young, rich, handsome, black man comes in (after we have been subjected to Kim Kardashian’s forced acting and God-awful voice) and is revealed to be the founder/CEO/whatever of a social media platform. This man, who is to be known from this point onward as “The Devil”, wastes no time flirting with Judith and pointing out the many inadequacies in her marriage. If I ever met this man in real life, I would take off my shoes and run as fast as possible in the opposite direction because he’s a complete nightmare.
Long story short, the blissful marriage begins to sour when Judith finds that the Devil pays more attention to her, and could offer her a more exciting life. Eh-mah-gerd! Sex that doesn’t happen in a bed with the pillows previously fluffed and with the lights off! It’s a whole new life! Judith’s husband offers her the chance to leave a street altercation unharmed after she has been heckled by a group of young, black men, explaining that they could have had guns; the Devil on the other hand, nearly pummels an innocent cyclist after Judith is injured from running into the bicycle because she was too busy trash talking with her head turned backwards during a run. The Devil also offers creepy possessiveness, calling her at home one night and asking why Judith’s husband doesn’t question who she’s on the phone with. “If you were mine, I’d want to know who you were talking to”. *swoon* Yes, this is on the list of qualities a woman looks for in a man, right next to being watched while asleep Edward Cullen-style.
The icing on this grossly dysfunctional cake was watching the Devil semi-rape Judith on his private plane. I sat in the theater, mouth agape, “Wait! What? There’s MORE?!” He pawed her repeatedly as she protested, asking him to stop. He did stop. And then he said something that nearly shut my brain down because it was so hard to process, “Now you can say you resisted”. And because this is an alternate reality, what followed was passionate monkey sex. Douchetards of the world now have another handy technique for raping women. Thanks Tyler Perry. After all that, what came next was predictable…up to a certain point. Judith leaves her husband, the Devil shoves her mother as she tries to stop her erring child from making a mistake, Judith berates him for shoving her mother, and the boxing gloves come out. Her husband finds out the Devil is HIV-positive and swoops in to rescue her, finding her in a tub looking like she just came out of a match against Gina Carano. In the grand finale, Judith is HIV positive, and comes to pick up her medication from the pharmacy where her husband works, and encounters his new wife and son on her way out. The movie ends with Judith walking down the street, ALONE, going back to meet her mother at church. She dissed Jesus, and she was punished, and she has no other place to go but back to him. Yes I get that the entire movie was supposed to symbolize what Perry deems to be normal gender roles and traditional Christianity.
I have so many questions:
Tyler Perry, what in the world is wrong with you?
Are we supposed to believe that a woman who professionally advised people about their relationships completely failed to discuss the problems in her own marriage and vaulted over to the Devil’s side after he bought her roses for her birthday, noticed her new hairdo and took her on a private jet?
What is wrong with you?
Why does no one discuss the Devil’s mode of infection? The status of his health? The fact that this is ignored makes HIV-positive people out to be even more reckless. In this portrayal, they are either uncaring of their effect on the people around them or just plain evil and intentionally infectious. HIV is NOT a form of punishment and HIV-positive people live full, happy lives unlike what you would have us believe.
I believe I’ve asked this before but, what is wrong with you Tyler Perry?
Why are all the strong, educated and successful black men in your movies always so greatly flawed when it comes to personality?
Do you hate women?
If you are looking for a truly horrific movie experience, this is it.
Students in Illinois need your help to correct an outrageous violation of privacy.
Illinois is the ONLY state in which health authorities are required by law to notify school principals of the names of students that test HIV-positive. Their principals can then disclose the information to any school personnel they like.
A bill before the senate, HB 61, would repeal this invasive and unnecessary requirement.
Urge the Illinois Senate to pass HB 61
Illinois’ disclosure law was written in 1987. Unfortunately, even in 2013, HIV remains highly stigmatized. Sharing students’ HIV status without their permission perpetuates this stigma and could discourage young people from getting tested for HIV. Plus, it is a violation of their right to medical confidentiality. Read more about this dangerous law.
Let’s change this law. Sign the petition and tell the Illinois Senate to pass HB 61.Â
Transgender women are the fastest growing population of the HIV-positive.  The National Institutes of Health came out with a report, noting that almost a third of transgender Americans have HIV.  Trans women of color specifically are at a greater risk than their white sisters.  Through a survey, it was found that 56% of black trans women have HIV.  The 2009 study from NIH also noted that many transgender women may not even know their HIV status.  With an alarming statistic like this, we have to wonder what’s causing it.
When individuals are thrown into social injustice, it can be difficult to escape from.  Trans women are profiled and disproportionately targeted and arrested by the law enforcement.    The police will try to use condoms as evidence of sex work, so trans women face the “choice” of keeping themselves and their partners safe or getting arrested.  When they’re forced into jail, trans women are often housed with male inmates or they are put into solitary confinement, as if either path is any better.  Sex workers are generally more likely to be HIV-positive than those who are not engaged in sex work, but because of the disproportionate targeting of trans women, trans women sex workers’ risk for HIV is four times greater.
While sex work is a valid way of meeting financial needs, some trans women turn to it as an option because of discrimination in employment.  In most of the United States, it’s completely legal to turn down or dismiss a person based on gender identity and sexual orientation.  People can even be denied housing or become evicted because of their gender identity and orientation.  This leaves a dangerously negative and significant impact on their economic well-being and safety.  It also makes it difficult for trans women especially to keep up with their hormonal therapy, since it’s often not covered by insurance, if they can even pay for that insurance with what the circumstances are.  With lack of access to basic health care, many incompetent doctors, clinics, social stigma, and overall institutions that discriminate against trans women, especially those of color– it’s all a very nasty formula expressing why trans women are hit so hard with HIV.
So, what can we do to help? Â Trans people are often absent from public campaigns for sexual health and safety. Â We can start by including them into that, and into many of our discussions and campaigns of social justice as well. Â We could get trans-specific in our literature in safer sex guides. Â We could also set up community centers as a safe space for trans people and create some peer groups, which would be strong social networks and a good use of peer outreach for safer sex and HIV testing. Â And of course we could and should create social support and do our part to de-stigmatize our trans brothers and sisters. Â Look up a local or national activist organization today.
« KO! KO! KO! », shouted the crowd .Mind you, they weren’t participating in a boxing match, neither were they at a musical concert, they shouted KO! in response to the health officials that took turns in sensitizing the crowd of more than 5000 that gathered at the Douala Place du Gouvernement to participate in the 9KM sensitization Walk that was organized by the Cameroon’s Coalition of Businesses for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis and better known by its French acronym CCATSIDA, Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health, and other stakeholders (local and international) in the fight against Malaria this Saturday 20th April 2013.
Being a participant, I could not help but be marveled at how engaged fellow participants were as we criss-crossed the streets of Cameroon’s most populated town. Young and old, and from diverse horizons, one thing united this people; that Malaria be kicked Out of Cameroon.
This passion and demonstrated in the endurance of the participants all through the alertness of their footsteps and the smile on their faces, could not however stop me from asking myself fundamental questions around the strategy for the fight against Malaria in my country. Thus, when one of the thousands of spectators that had amassed at streets corners shouted, “Where are condoms?”, there was an outburst of laughter from the crowd, I began asking myself what might have prompted this spectator to ask the question he did. As I thought about this, my eyes fell on the logo of the Cameroonian Coalition of Businesses for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis and on the T-Shirt of the participant ahead of me, my answer was here. The words AIDS on this coalitions logo prompted the question from this spectator.
AIDS and its prevention methods are better known in Cameroon than Malaria and its means of protection. This is paradoxical given that Malaria kills in Cameroon and Sub-Saharan Africa than HIV/AIDS. Mind you, I am in no way saying that resources (human and material) should be shifted from the fight against HIV/AIDS, which is causing havoc in Cameroon especially amongst youths, to the fight against Malaria. The point I am trying to make is that the fight against Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and Tuberculosis has for long been done as though they were isolated.
It is true that a person that has Malaria or Tuberculosis is not automatically an HIV/AIDS patient, but most often people suffering from HIV/AIDS in Cameroon are victims of the Malaria and tuberculosis given the milieu in which they live and the little means they have to survive on.
I have for long being convinced that an effective fight against Malaria cannot be done in an isolated manner but must be inclusive; taking into consideration the vectors of the disease in various communities in Cameroon. A dirty environment provides good breeding grounds for Mosquitoes especially the female Anopheles mosquito, through which Malaria is spread, the fight against Malaria must start from there. If a clean environment is achieved through mechanism through efficient urban development and poverty reduction strategies, Malaria will be made history. After all, isn’t it common knowledge that prevention is better than Cure?
In Cameroon and I guess is the case elsewhere in the world, a change from a dirty and crowded environment to a cleaner environment is the main indicator that a person has emerged from poverty. This is so because people who could barely afford 3 meals a day will have little time to think about the environments in which they live talk less of women in this bracket going for prenatal consultation or even having time to take their infants to the hospital when they are sick. Thus, despite the bed-nets distribution campaigns that have been organized all over Cameroon and despite the fact that Malaria treatment is free for children and pregnant women in Cameroon, Malaria killed more than 3000 people most of whom children.
Without an efficient attack on poverty, which is fertile ground for poor living conditions, I am afraid our walk and much talk on the fight against Malaria will be in vain. For Malaria to be kicked out of this country, we must not only walk on occasions like those organized  to mark the World day for the fight against Malaria, we must truly walk the talk on the fight against Malaria daily, by launching an immediate assault and poverty. Because Malaria is the consequence of a dirty environment which is its self a glaring consequence of poverty.
Oral problems are very common in people with HIV. More than one third of people living with HIV have oral conditions with severe oral health problems in their daily life that arise because of their weakened immune system. And even though combination antiretroviral therapy has made some oral problems less common, others are occurring more often with this type of treatment.
They can be painful, annoying, and lead to other problems
How Do I Know if I Have HIV/AIDS in relation to Dental?
Dental problems such as sore bleeding gums, herpes sores in the mouth, and fungal and candida (yeast) infections may be among the first signs of AIDS. However, you should not assume you are infected if you have any of these symptoms as these occur in the general population as well. The only way to determine whether you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection. Consult with your physician or other healthcare professional.
A positive HIV test result does not mean that you have AIDS. AIDS is a medical diagnosis made by a doctor based on specific criteria. You also cannot rely on symptoms to know whether or not you are infected with HIV. Many people who are infected with HIV do not have any symptoms at all for many years.
You may be told that oral problems are minor compared to other things you have to deal with. But you know that they can cause discomfort and embarrassment and really affect how you feel about yourself. Oral problems can also lead to trouble with eating. If mouth pain or tenderness makes it difficult to chew and swallow, or if you can’t taste food as well as you used to, you may not eat enough. And, your doctor may tell you to eat more than normal so your body has enough energy to deal with HIV.
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They can be treated
Today there are medical treatments that can slow down the rate at which HIV weakens the immune system. There are other treatments that can prevent or treat some of the illnesses associated with AIDS. As with other diseases, early detection offers more options for treatment.
The most common oral problems linked with HIV can be treated. So talk with your doctor or dentist about what treatment might work for you.
Remember, with the right treatment, your mouth can feel better. And that’s an important step toward living well, not just longer, with HIV.
|
 |
Description |
It could be: |
What & where? |
Painful? |
Contagious? |
Treatment |
| Red sores ulcers |
Aphthous (AF-thus) ulcers. Also known as Canker Sores | Red sores that might also have a yellow-gray film on top. They are usually on the moveable parts of the mouth such as the tongue or inside of the cheeks and lips. |
Yes |
No |
Mild cases – Over-the-counter cream or prescription mouthwash that contains corticosteroids; More severe cases – corticosteroids in a pill form | |
| OR | ||||||
| Herpes (HER-peez) A viral infection | Red sores usually on the roof of the mouth. They are sometimes on the outside of the lips, where they are called fever blisters. |
Sometimes |
Yes |
Prescription pill can reduce healing time and frequency of outbreaks. | ||
| White hairlike growth | Hairy Leukoplakia (Loo-ko-PLAY-key-uh) caused by the Epstein-Barr virus | White patches that do not wipe away; sometimes very thick and “hairlike.” Usually appear on the side of the tongue or sometimes inside the cheeks and lower lip. |
Not usually |
No |
Mild cases – not usually required; More severe cases – a prescription pill that may reduce severity of symptoms. In some severe cases, a pain reliever might also be required. | |
| White creamy or bumpy patcheslike cottage cheese | Candidiasis (CAN-di-dye-uh-sis), a fungal (yeast) infection – Also known as thrush | White or yellowish patches (or can sometimes be red). If wiped away, there will be redness or bleeding underneath. They can appear anywhere in the mouth. |
Sometimes, a burning feeling |
No |
Mild cases – prescription antifungal lozenge or mouthwash; More severe cases – prescription antifungal pills. | |
| Warts | Small, white, gray, or pinkish rough bumps that look like cauliflower. They can appear inside the lips and on other parts of the mouth. |
Not |
Possibly |
Inside the mouth – a doctor can remove them surgically or use “cryosurgery” – a way of freezing them off; On the lips – a prescription cream that will wear away the wart. Warts can return after treatment. |
#Any suggestion Or Question Regards  Oral Problem with relation to HIV?AIDS Please let me .I will do my best to help you out .
Hello World 
,
I’m sure we all know Sheryl Lee Ralph. We see her in the famous Moesha television series. I didn’t know she was half Jamaica until yesterday when I saw her at a Ministry of Health function which was held to celebrate her new partnership with the Ministry as the “face” of the new HIV/AIDS campaign.
Here is more information about her taken from:Â http://www.answers.com/topic/sheryl-lee-ralph#ixzz2RQuwLucu
“Sheryl Lee Ralph, best known as Moesha‘s television stepmom, is an accomplished actress and vocalist whose path to stardom has been occasionally blunted by the shortage of solid roles for women of color in the entertainment industry. Ralph began her career in the late 1970s, and for a time had to earn a living as a soap opera regular. In the 1990s, as color barriers began to disintegrate somewhat, Ralph has won a number of serious parts in critically acclaimed films; more importantly, as head of her own production company she is able to channel the determination that guided her through the rough days of her career into projects that will benefit other African American entertainment professionals.”
She is also the founder of the Diva foundation:
“Divinely Inspired Victoriously AWARE“… Raising awareness of HIV/AIDS for men, women and children around the globe. Join and Support our Sisters CircleTODAY because HIV/AIDS affects us ALL!
The DIVA Foundation is an international 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Sheryl Lee Ralph in 1990 as a memorial to the many friends she lost to AIDS. The organization focuses on generating resources and producing events that raise awareness and educate millions of people around the world affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. The DIVA Foundation utilizes music, entertainment and voice as a vehicle to inform, educate and reduce the stigma attached to this deadly disease that affects us ALL.”
(taken from http://www.thedivafoundation.org/about.html)
She presented a very inspiring message at the function emphasizing the necessity to speak frankly and openly to our youth about sex and contraceptives. As posited by the diva her self  ”See, if we don’t talk to our young people first, somebody else will, and the information they give them is not necessarily what we want them to hear, know or have,”.
She is a firm advocate for allow youth to have access to contraceptives as a means of HIV/AIDS prevention. Read more about her statement at : http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Give-students-condoms_14131273#ixzz2RQxQUvCl“.
I applaud the DIVA Sheryl Lee Ralph for her indelible contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS and I can’t wait to she what she has in store next!
<3 kevz
There are few things as AHMAZING as when young people, and their allies, get together to work for a common cause. Â On Wednesday, April 10, we saw your events, read your tweets, posts and blogs, smiled at your pictures, and joined you in celebrating the very first National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day!
Each and every day in the United States 33 young people contract HIV. That is 1,000 young people each and every month. There are more than 76,000 young people under the age of 25 living with HIV in this country alone, and 60% of them don’t know that they have the infection.
Young people often feel as if they are fighting this epidemic alone, but we were NOT alone in this fight! Thousands of young people across this country stood together to prioritize young people in the fight against HIV & AIDS. You organized more than 50 events to raise awareness of the impact of HIV and AIDS on the campus of Howard University, tabled in Kansas, provided free testing in Florida, got your cities to officially recognize the day, held open-mic nights in Arizona, participated in a #youth #HIV Twitter chat with youth activists @lstallworth0 and @GeminiInstinct, and helped get the NYHAAD hashtag shared 130,480 times! Hot.
You also contributed amazing blogs on:
We were bowled over by the hundreds of photos you submitted on what young people need to reach an AIDS-free generation.
The list could go on and on, your activism was everywhere! Thank you for showing the world that young people matter – that they need to be valued not just for who they will become tomorrow, but who they are today –and that you will not be silent! See you for NYHAAD 2014!
April 10, the first ever National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day, was a huge success!  From the Capitol Hill briefing, to the blogs and social media, to the events and activism around the country, youth activists and adult allies came out in full force.  We\’ll have a full recap with pictures later, but in the meantime, thanks for all that you did to support NYHAAD!
Only 23% of sexually active teens have been tested for HIV. Are you one of them? Find free or low-cost clinics near you!
Today is the first ever National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and I am urging folks to participate by learning about sexuality and sexual health, talking to friends and family and making these discussions informative and empowering, and preventing the spread of ignorance and diseases.
Taking the time to learn about our own bodies, living healthy, protecting ourselves, dealing with emotions, breaking barriers, and understanding the wide spectrum of sexuality is a must, no matter what age you may be.
I strongly believe that prevention is our biggest weapon and our only way of conquering this fight is through educating, informing, and talking.
There are no more reasons or valid excuses for youth to continue to put themselves at risk. Whether it is at home or in school, discussions about HIV/AIDS and sexual education are needed in order to stop more people from getting infected and break stigma.
“The good news is that we now have an official day to recognize and raise awareness for HIV and AIDS in young people. The bad news is there are still 1000 new cases of young people contracting HIV every month. This rate of infection remains too high because so many young people are not getting the valuable information they need to protect themselves and their partners.”
I am
A miniature of all things else
A microscope of all things else
All things else is being cared for
Seen to
Helped and sheltered but
I am
so small all that won’t reach me
it will barely brush the surface of my troubles
I am
All things else when it was new
All things else still unformed
All things else tries to mold me
Shape me
shelter and fix but
I am
Brave enough to walk through fire
Forge myself into creation with minimal assistance
I am
Part of all things else but not
Only all things else, you see
instead all things else is part of me
some of me
none of me and all of me
I am
Dependent on the part, some, none, whole
But it is not the only thing I need to survive
I am
Grateful for all all things else has
But I need my own
This poem inspired by the current push to obtain a National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day on April 10. May people have argued that young people do not deserve their own day for there are a myriad of other days under which they fall under. This argument dismisses the fact that young people are a demographic with their own specific needs and issues. Young people may fall into every other group that already has an AIDS Awareness Day, but just because they are part of those groups does not mean that they do not deserve and need their own day. For though they are a part of all things else, they are not only all things else, and they need their own.
Today is National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day. This disease has been robbing our generation of precious young people for many years and now is the time to take a stand and fight for our generation back. I am happy to support this day and I have hopes that it will evolve into a mass movement amongst the young people of this generation. Knowledge is power! By raising awareness and promoting prevention young people will have the power to fight HIV and AIDS.
April 10, 2013 will be celebrated as National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) in the United States. The reality remains that our young people are being impacted by HIV within our society. Therefore their needs must be catered to as well.
According to Population Media, “Young people in Jamaica are in a severe crisis. Jamaica’s adolescent pregnancy rate is among the highest in the Caribbean, and Jamaica’s infection rate for HIV/AIDS is highest among youth ages 15-24. In 2004, AIDS was the second leading cause of death for both young men and young women ages 15-24.”
The 2012 International AIDS Conference saw a ground breaking number of over 2000 young people from around the world being active in the activities leading up to and at the conference. This is a stride in the right direction and no wonder the relevance of having NYHAAD. .
Jamaica’s HIV programme has been acclaimed as being among the most successful in the Latin American and Caribbean region and this is commendable but there are still gaps that need to bridge. One such gap is having youths become more involved in the HIV/AIDS response. Youths have so much input to make if they are given the opportunity to do so.
Within policy making youths must be at the table helping to aid in the decision making process. Over a year ago the Health Ministry was quoted saying “There is a worrying trend of younger females contracting HIV/AIDS, with the 10-29 and 15-19 age groups accounting for the majority of the increase.”  What actions has the government taken to address this since then? Recognizing NYHAAD is one such action that could be modeled to have young people reflect on their actions and input they can make in the HIV response.
Getting to zero is the goal of all involves in the HIV response and it is not an easy task. In order to get there stakeholders must look at creative ways of reaching the most vulnerable within our society. Without the input by those who are most affected then this reality will just be blown away in the winds.
We believe that youth involvement within the HIV/AIDS response will put on end to this epidemic. Ending AIDS means no more AIDS related death. This will come through awareness. What better way to do this now than to join us in recognizing the importance of having a National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and have the relevant ministries observing this day as well.
Jason Madden
IYSO Council Member
Share widely!
While Boston College is against adult students at the college using and having access to condoms my college LOVED when the student government gave out condom flowers on Condom Day.
I am one part of my college’s Undergrad Student Governments Health Programming Board. Our campus has a health clinic like many other college campuses however, a lot of students do not know about it. In an effort to get more of my peers to know about the clinic and to be more mindful of the sexual health I decided to make condom flowers for Valentine’s Day and give them away to students.
By Lizzie Jekanowski and Chelsea Lennox, campus organizers at Boston College
Lately we’ve been having some trouble at school. (You might have heard about it. ) Our grades are fine; we’re not vandalizing the campus; we’re not in a cheating scandal. But our crime has made national news:
We’re giving out condoms.
Condoms, and information about how to use them to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy.
For this, we’ve been told by the dean that we’ll be disciplined if we don’t stop.
It’s all happening  just in time for National Youth HIV and AIDS Day (NYHAAD)- a day when youth activists around the nation are gathering together to promote HIV testing, fight stigma, and hold our leaders accountable for their commitment to realizing an AIDS-free generation. This is what we’re doing today: holding BC accountable.
Boston College promotes abstinence until marriage as the only acceptable means of protection from STIs and pregnancy. Abstinence is a great choice for those who choose it. But by age 19, 70 percent of people have already had sex; ninety-five percent of people have sex before they are married.  What about those students’ lives and futures? Doesn’t BC want everyone to have all the tools they need to be healthy and productive? Why would the college withhold vital information and supplies from its students, and instead promote silence and shame?
For people who are sexually active, condoms are highly effective at preventing HIV. It’s common sense that being able to get condoms nearby and for free makes students likelier to use them.   That’s why the Great American Condom Campaign was founded – to make it easier for college students to get protection before they need it. That’s why, on this day dedicated to prioritizing young people in the fight against HIV and AIDS , we refuse to stop providing condoms on our campus.
Boston College is not alone in creating obstacles to ending the AIDS epidemic. Many campuses ban condom distribution. Many school districts don’t provide comprehensive information about contraception and condoms. Most college and high school students have never been tested for HIV. There is still a lot of work to be done to get to a sexually healthy nation.
We do this work because we are dedicated to keeping our fellow students, and their partners, safer and healthier. We have the right to work to make our campus community healthier.
On NYHAAD, we’re standing with thousands of students around the country. We need to ensure access to safer sex materials, resources, and information. All of us need and have a right to comprehensive information and services, and a voice in decisions that affect us.
We’re leading the fight to get to an AIDS-free generation. We’re not backing down.
And , trouble or not, we’re still handing out condoms!
by Emilio Vicente, an organizer for HIV and AIDS prevention and DREAM activist.
I was a senior at a rural high school in North Carolina, planning to host the school’s first Latino AIDS Awareness Day event. I mentioned it to one of my teachers and the first thing he told me was that I shouldn’t go through with the event because same-sex couples shouldn’t be having sex in the first place. That it was wrong.
I was always aware my town was conservative on most issues. There were barely any openly out people in the community because of the stigma that comes with being gay. I hadn’t even come out as being gay then (it’s only been recent that I’ve been comfortable with my sexual orientation), but I knew that Latinos are affected by HIV & AIDS. My fellow classmates had the right to be informed and educated on how they could protect themselves. I was not going to be stopped.
There are over 76,000 young people are currently living with HIV across the country. An estimated 15% of diagnoses of HIV infection in 13 to 19 year olds were in Latino young people.
How is this possible? My generation has been taught to fear this big disease with a little name since we were young. We have never, ever, known a world without AIDS. In the thirty years since AIDS has gripped the world, iPods, landlines, and two Popes have come and gone, but somehow AIDS has remained.
It is my deepest hope that my generation, the Millennial generation, finds an end to this disease, but we’re not just sitting on the sidelines waiting for something to happen. Young people want end this epidemic, I know it. We have the right to live in an AIDS-free generation, and for that to happen we all must do our part. We must hold our leaders accountable, and we must acknowledge the great work young people are doing in the fight against HIV & AIDS.
Young people are out there, right now, working to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS in our communities. According to research from Advocates for Youth, seven in ten Latinos say they would work to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS in their community. From helping pass the NC Healthy Youth Act of 2009, which gives access to accurate information on sexual issues including HIV and AIDS, to being a part of the hundreds of campuses that distribute condoms and information through the Great American Condom Campaign, I’ve learned that we must all do our part to make a difference. We understand that knowledge is key, and we are eager for more information to protect ourselves. This is true among Millennials of color especially, among whom 50% want more information on HIV & AIDS.
Young people know that we must educate and include as many people as possible, including places that lack educational and health resources and where stigma runs high.
The impact young people will have in ending this epidemic cannot be minimized. We will bring about change, but we need to be empowered to do so. This is why I encourage all youth to take part in National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day , today, April 10th. National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day is a day to educate the public about the impact of HIV and AIDS on young people as well as highlight the amazing work young people are doing across the country to fight the HIV & AIDS epidemic in the United States.
There has been much talk about an AIDS-free generation, but it’s not possible without our nation’s youth.  Young people and our allies are determined to end this epidemic once and for all, and we need support and recognition along the way.
I want to live in a world where all young people have the information and resources to make healthy decisions for ourselves, our partners, and our families. A world where we are free from fear and stigma. And a world where we celebrate youth for our dedication and innovation in the fight against HIV & AIDS. I know we can get there. Take part in National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day on April 10 to empower youth in your life to change their communities for the better.
by Olivia Standifer, a National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day ambassador through Advocates for Youth, and currently lives in South Carolina where she received her Bachelor’s in Health Promotion from Coastal Carolina University. Â
Today’s young people are the first generation who has never known a world without HIV and AIDS. In the United States, one in four new cases of HIV is among youth ages 13 to 24, and 60% who have the virus don’t even know it. I am determined to see that this epidemic is put to an end. To do so, I have become an ambassador for National Youth HIV& AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) which will be observed for the first time on  April 10th. As an ambassador, I am responsible for arranging different activities around the community and educating others on the topic of HIV & AIDS.
Every day, at least one person asks me what I do for a living, and I tell them I work with individuals who are living with HIV & AIDS by providing treatment, awareness, and prevention to these individuals. Automatically people’s first response is “What made you want to do that?” or “It takes a certain type of person to want to work with such a horrible disease.” I’m never quite sure what “a certain type of person” means, but the drive behind my devotion to work with HIV & AIDS comes a very personal place – my own family.
This disease has been a part of my life since I can remember. My uncle became HIV positive around the time I was born, so it has unfortunately become something that my family has become accustomed to. The older I got, the more aware I became of how this disease was affecting my family and my uncle. For the past 12 years, I’ve watched this wretched disease change my uncle and seen how his life was never the same after.
My uncle was first diagnosed with HIV back in 1986; my family was of course distraught and confused and did not know which way to turn for help. Back then there was not nearly enough education, awareness, or the proper medication for this disease, so to my family it was a huge scare, especially to my grandmother, his mother. She felt like there was no help for her son. Her biggest fear was that she was going to have to watch her son die from this disease. My grandmother had already lost a son at birth, so her fear of losing another son was a heartache she couldn’t imagine. The fact that my uncle was gay also made my grandmother become even more concerned with how he was going to receive care. My family never judged him because of his sexual orientation, but we knew society would. I believe that scared my grandmother the most.
I was about 11 years old when I began to really get involved with different activities around the community involving people living with HIV & AIDS. When HIV first came about it was known as a “gay man’s” disease. But in the generation that I have grown up in, it has affected everyone, no matter their sexual orientation, age, race, gender, or socio-economic status. And now, the biggest impact is being felt by young people.
We didn’t talk about my uncle’s disease much.  But we, especially my grandmother, looked after him. Her love and concern for my uncle was undeniable, and it still is. It was in seeing how much that love and care really helped my uncle get through such a tough struggle that I knew I had to help other people living with HIV in the same way.
I have since dedicated my life to HIV & AIDS prevention and education. I went to college at Coastal Carolina University and majored in Health Promotion. This gave me the opportunity to gain more knowledge on statistics, research, new medications that are out there, and what more I could do to get involved. As a senior, I did my internship at Careteam, Inc. located in Myrtle Beach, SC and had the chance to do hands-on HIV & AIDS prevention work. Â When I learned about NYHAAD, I knew I had to be a part of it.
There are other young people out there who are like me. Young people who are committed to ending this epidemic once and for all. Young people who are on the ground working for change, educating their peers, standing up to school boards, bringing truth to the myths. For us, HIV is a disease that can easily be prevented with the right education, proper awareness, and resources in our communities. That’s what young people need to fight this disease. Stand with us so we can make that happen. Not just for my uncle, but for the many others who are living with HIV and for all of us who want to live to see a world free from AIDS.
Age should not be a reason that youth are not involved in the fight against HIV & AIDS. If anything, we should be at the forefront because our age group, 15-25, are at the greatest risk of contracting STIs.
A few key things that could be done for young people to fight against HIV/AIDS is to grant all young people access to comprehensive sexual health education – whether that be in a school setting or an organization providing the education for you. Not only do we need to know the STDs that are out there, but we need to know sign/symptoms, how to contract and transmit them, and whether or not they are curable. HIV/AIDS is not only incurable but can take up to 6 months to show up on a STD test, which is why we should all be encouraged to get tested regularly.
Another key suggestion for young people to fight against HIV/AIDS, is that there should also be more programs that teach the necessary skills – condom use and talking about HIV with a partner – so that young people are equipped, before having sex, with the tools to protect themselves. Most importantly, it should be emphasized that using condoms SHOULD NOT be negotiable… ideally, if young people are taught proper ways to use condoms and why they should, hopefully they will understand the importance of consistent and correct condom usage.
As we celebrate our first ever National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day on April 10th , please remember its purpose! This day is to educate the public about the impact of HIV and AIDS on young people, as well as highlight the amazing work young people are doing across the country to fight the HIV & AIDS epidemic. To keep it simple…SAFE SEX is the BEST SEX and always remember to PROTECT YOURSELF and GET TESTED!
Today’s the day you’ve been waiting for, the FIRST EVER National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD)! Today we acknowledge young people’s great work fighting the HIV & AIDS epidemic, and hold our leaders accountable to prioritizing young people in the fight against HIV & AIDS.
Show your love for NYHAAD! :
1.  Tweet  and post on Facebook about the day
2. Â Take a selfie! Download (right-click and choose save as), print out, and take a picture with this image – then tweet your pic to @youthaidsday
3. Â Visit Amplify to hear from AMAZING youth activists who work every day to end this epidemic.
4.  Join @YouthAIDSDay @TheBodyDotCom @_CaressaCameron @GeminiInstinct and @lstallworth0 from 2PM – 3PM EST today for a Twitter chat on #youth and #HIV, follow with #NYHAADchat.
5. Â Find a NYHAAD event near you via the official NYHAAD map.
Let’s make this happen!
I created a Tumblr Post for NYHAAD, and if anyone would like to reblog it I have linked it here: Â http://allie-nic0le.tumblr.com/post/47572877867/april-10th-is-national-hiv-and-aids-awareness-day
Let’s spread the awareness and get people motivated!
 “Sex should be taught in the home” “it’s the parents responsibility to educate their children about sex”, “school is not the appropriate place to talk about sex”. How many people have heard at least one of these statements regarding sex education in schools? However, what “adults” fail to realize is that their children are constantly being taught about sex. They are taught about sex through the TV, magazines, and friends just to name a few sources. In fact, the only place teenagers are not being taught about sex is in the schools, unless you count what is written on the walls in the bathrooms or in the stalls. Adults have this fear that if they educate teenagers about sex, than somehow they are encouraging teenagers to have sex. It is that type of close minded thinking that hinders teenagers and children from making autonomous and educated decisions around sex. Consider the story of Jamie.
            Jamie grew up in a small city in Petersburg, Virginia. Petersburg public school system did not include sex education into the curriculum. In fact, the closest thing to sex education that Jamie received was learning about the reproductive process in Health class in the 7th grade. Needless to say that Jamie did not receive any information about sex from her family. All they would tell her about sex was that it was for married couples only. If she continued to ask questions or show curiosity about sex, her family would condemn and criticize her for her curiosity. Jamie eventually learned that she could not talk with her family about sex and that school was not going to educate her about it either. Like most teenagers, Jamie turned to her friends for advice.
           Jamie’s friends did not know much about sex either. It was like the blind leading the blind. They believed notions like, if you have sex standing up that will circumvent pregnancy and if you douched after sex that would remove all the sperm inside. What they did not know was that these were both myths and not fact-based. Jamie became sexually active and followed the instructions of her friends. A week after becoming sexually active, Jamie became pregnant. The question remains, what could have been done to prevent this from happening?
           There are a number of reasons why this happened to Jamie. Firstly, Jamie’s family did not provide her with sex education. They were intimidated and uncomfortable with providing her with information about sex. Unfortunately, this is true for a lot of parents. Some parents believe that educating their children about sex means giving them permission to go out and have sex. Other parents have this notion of “my parents didn’t teach me about sex and I turned out ok. They will figure it out on their own”. In addition to Jamie’s parents not be willing to educate her about sex, her school was also not willing to do so. Petersburg public school system believed that sex education was a family matter and should be discussed in the home. So, if teens aren’t being taught by their parents or by the school system, who do you think is teaching them about sex? The answer is the media and their friends, both of which may not be credible and educated sources.
           To put it simply, Jamie became pregnant due to lack of knowledge. In a weird way, Jamie’s situation could have ended more catastrophically. Instead of becoming pregnant, she could have contracted an incurable STI like Herpes or HIV and possibly passed the infection on to her child. The story of Jamie illustrates that teenagers are perishing due to lack of knowledge. By denying teenagers access to credible comprehensive sex education, we, as a society, are basically telling them to figure it out on their own. However, teens WILL make mistakes if left to educate themselves about sex. We have to take charge and not allow our youth to make life changing mistakes. In order to do this, we must begin educating them. Comprehensive sex education will give children and teens the information and resources they need to make responsible and informative decisions about sex and relationships.
           When adults hear about having comprehensive sex education in schools, they automatically think of 5 year olds being taught how to put on a condom. However, I think it is important to inform adults and parents that when we say comprehensive sex education, we mean age-appropriate comprehensive sex education. In addition, comprehensive sex education is not just about sex. It also encompasses topics such as healthy relationships and dating violence prevention. For example, a 5 year old student may be taught about “good touch” and “bad touch”. An eighth grade student may be taught about what a healthy and unhealthy relationship entails. Parents and adults may ask, “How will comprehensive sex education help children and teens make smart choices about sex?” Comprehensive sex education provides young people with power. Knowledge is power. The purpose of comprehensive sex education is to provide age appropriate information to children and teens, in order for them to have the tools to make their own informative decisions about sex.
Parents and adults may also ask “What do young people need to fight HIV/AIDS?” Again, the greatest weapon that we can give young people to fight against HIV/AIDS, STIs, pregnancy, dating violence, etc. is to provide them with knowledge. That means providing them with age appropriate comprehensive sex education and allowing them to take charge of their own education. It is important to allow young people to have an input in regards to what they want to learn about sex. Comprehensive sex education must include topics that young people feel are important to them. Young people not only need comprehensive sex education, but they also need to be able to actively participate in educating themselves. Their opinions and thoughts regarding topics within comprehensive sex education must be valued and heard, in order to create change.
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Tomorrow is the first ever National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day. Why is it important you ask? Here’s why
A few weeks back  I listened attentively to â€SOS Doctor’, one of the best health programs that be on Radio in Cameroon. As I listened, I got very happy at the great job that Dr. Dion Grace, a member of the National AIDS Control Committee of Cameroon was doing to educate Cameroonians on anti-retroviral drugs. She eloquently and insightfully answered every one of the questions that were posed to her by listeners who called-in and am sure her intervention in the program was a timely one. Everything was fine until when a listener called-in to ask what is it that could be done to reduce stigma on people who are on anti-retroviral drugs. Dr. Dion as usual gave a very insightful answer to this question going as far as citing the example of Ivory Coast where the drugs are put in anonymous packages so that they can be taken by patients without fear of stigma by the people around them. She went ahead to cite cases where some special containers of various doses is been used in some countries to reduce stigma. This was quiet interesting to know, but when she started advising people on anti-retroviral that they could tell people around them that they are taking vitamins or pills in order to avoid stigmatization I grumbled the following to myself: Do I have to be so ashamed of my status that I have to lie to others?
I have no statistics on this but I can assure you that having to lie on your HIV status is the order of the day in Cameroon especially amongst young people to avoid stigma and discrimination.  Well, this to an extend is understandable given that People Living With  HIV/AIDS(PLWHA)  are considered as being punished by God for either their sisns or those committed by their family. But when telling a lie to avoid stigma is a behaviour that is reinforced health professionals, I have reservations and clearly doubt how efficient this approach could be.
I am utterly convinced that a problem can only be solved if its root cause(s) is/are carefully tackled. As a young person living in a society where most PLWHA are young persons, I compare telling a lie on your HIV/AIDS status to survive to deliberately refusing to tackle the problem from it’s source and launching an attack on its leaves instead.
To reduce stigma in the most sustainable way possible, education rather than lies is required.Young  People, their families, and the communities in which People on anti-retroviral drugs have to be educated on the dangers of stigma and on the importance of accepting PLWHA. Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations’ Secretary-General,  vividly spelt out society’s responsibility to PLWHA when he declared that,  “We can fight stigma. Enlightened laws and policies are key. But it begins with openness, the courage to speak out. Schools should teach respect and understanding. Religious leaders should preach tolerance. The media should condemn prejudice and use its influence to advance social change, from securing legal protections to ensuring access to health care.”
Lies do nothing but contribute in amplifying the myth around HIV/AIDS in the Cameroonian society. People on anti-retroviral drugs do not need to lie on their status to survive stigma, they need to accept themselves as they are and deserve the care and protection that every other human being is due by the society in which they live.They deserve to live a real life and not a life of lies.
Thanks to Advocates For Youth, I had the privilege and pleasure of attending the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health’s National Advocacy Weekend for 5 days this past March. As I packed my bags and boarded the plane that would take me from Ithaca, NY to Washington DC, I had no clue as to the intense intellectual, emotional, and passionate environment I was about to step into.
This year’s Advocacy Weekend was focused on the inclusion of immigrant women’s health care in immigration reform. Immigration policy directly affects an immigrant woman’s access to health care. According to the NLIRH website, the majority of female immigrants do not have healthcare coverage. State legislatures continue to introduce legislation that would restrict non-citizens’ access to basic public health programs, including prenatal care. Immigrant women are less likely to receive adequate reproductive health care, including cervical and breast cancer screening and treatment, family planning services, HIV/AIDS testing and treatment, accurate sex education and culturally and linguistically competent services.
Reproductive Justice tells us that these services are essential for women to have the basic human rights to dignity and self determination. It was under this belief that over 50 activists from across the country joined together. We represented the full spectrum of american latina identity- some of us were undocumented, others were second and third generation citizens. Our command of English and Spanish differed, but we were united in our conviction, and most of all in our support of one another.
Yo te apoyo. This is one of NLIRH’s campaign slogans, and it was this sentiment that was most felt throughout the weekend. As we learned about the intricacies of immigration reform and of it’s intersections with Reproductive Justice, we were free to voice our personal experiences and frustrations. People spoke of very personal obstacles- young motherhood, the pain of familial disruption by deportation, the inability to be seen by a doctor for a cyst in the breast- openly and honestly, and were always received with respect and the assurance that they had in their power the ability to create change.
At the rally for Immigrant Women on Sunday, speakers shouted, “We are on the right side of history!” to a church full of applause. I clapped and shouted right along.  It was only later that I questioned the assurance I felt that this is true. I suppose I feel that I am “on the right side of history” when I am working with people who sound least like a history textbook.. People who choose not to simplify and sterilize an issue, because they are not afraid to admit to and confront the complexity and diversity of it. People who gain collective power through their willingness to admit to vulnerability, to the need to support and be supported in their struggle.
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For more information about the issue of Immigrant women’s access to healthcare, and how it is affected by immigration policy, check out:
The Economic Effects of Granting Legal Status and Citizenship to Undocumented Immigrants
Here are a few things you probably didn’t know:
1) Among ages 13-24, 1000 young people acquire HIV EVERY MONTH
2) 34,000 young people RIGHT NOW are living with HIV
3) Young African Americans are generally more affected.
61% of Millennials of color say that staying healthy is the main priority so WHY are they the most affected? The reason for this is simple: a lack of information. No one (at least not in their right mind) wants to contract HIV – we may want to have sex but we certainly don’t want to contract an STI in the process. More adults need to acknowledge that the young people they know may be having sex and help them get all the information and services they need to protect themselves and be healthy. Right now in the U.S. one in four young women 15 to 19 years old has a sexually transmitted infection. This cannot go on. We need to ensure young people’s right to information and services to lead healthy lives. Young people, too often, have been denied their right to sex education and sexual health services. The month of April is National Get Yourself Tested Month so do yourself a favor and go get tested and while you’re at it get your partner tested too- as a matter-of-fact get a bunch of friends together and get tested as a team. The best friendships are healthy friendships. Spread the information about testing sites and the information you just acquired to help everyone in your community lead a healthy lifestyle.
Tattoos can be beautiful, permanent works of art, but use an infected needle and they could be your worse nightmare. HIV/AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease that can be transmitted via shared needles because of the mixing of blood. So if you are a recipient of a “backyard tattoo” and you are not sure whether or not the artist used clean needles or properly cleaned the equipment, you could have put yourself at risk for HIV/AIDS transmission. The same holds true for piercing equipment.
To prevent transmission of HIV/AIDS ask yourself at “any point in time will I be in direct and unprotected contact with vaginal secretions, semen, blood or breast milk of an infected person?” Â If the answer is no chances are you are safe. You do not always know the status of people you encounter so you ALWAYS need to protect yourself! Even if you or a partner is on a fabulous method of birth control to prevent unintended pregnancies, you still need to protect against STDs – so use a condom! SAFE SEX is the BEST SEX!
Are you a young person (14-24 years old) who is:
Here’s something you may not have known. Every month 1,000 young people acquire HIV. Every month.
It’s time to take action and invest in young people – their health, their education, and their leadership – so we can truly reach an AIDS-free generation!
Join us for the FIRST EVER National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) on April 10! Let’s acknowledge young people’s great work fighting this epidemic, and hold our leaders accountable to prioritizing young people in the fight against HIV & AIDS.
In the United States, one in four new HIV infections is among youth ages 13 to 24 which is around 25% of the entire new HIV infections. Every month 1,000 young people are infected with HIV and over 73,000 young people are currently living with HIV across the country. Although the general public believes it is crucial for the future of the United State to fight against the AIDS epidemic, our nation’s youth is often ignored or less concerned in this process because of their immature nature and lack of expertise in these issues. To achieve a truly AIDS-Free Generation, our nation’s youth have to gather and unify under April 10th, National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day to acknowledge the youth force that participated in this process also encourage more youth to join this process to allow the community and the nation to truly appreciate the importance of youth in this fight against HIV Epidemic.
However, the youth force cannot achieve this process without the support from the government and the community. Inside the United States, HIV is treated as a taboo in our daily life, the social norm prohibited youth to acquire the essential knowledge to protect him or her from dangerous circumstance when they unexpectedly exposed to HIV viruses. Therefore the school and the community should not be only teaching the youth for complete abstinence until they were qualified or approved by their parents or the institutions. More funding should be provided for youth based non-governmental organizations, schools and community to support the youth activists to reach out to a broader general public to educate and to facilitate other youth population to acquire the necessary knowledge to prevent the HIV epidemic. It is much easier for the youth activists to reach out for the youth who needs education because youth have tendency to rebel and despise the voice from their elders or their superiorities. Many of them trusted their friends much more than their parents or their school counselor. Consequently, the best way to prevent increasing HIV infections is through more recruitment of the youth activists. I believed a more comprehensive sex education bill should be passed under the federal legislature to allow the youth population to have more opportunities to talk and to communicate with the HIV activists so the youth can truly benefited from these talks. For example, by having more activists, the comprehensive sexual education can happen in the casual chat with a friend instead of a required lecture or a formal panel that ticks off youth’s interest.
The United States should also remove the social barrier that carried when the youth in the community are involved in issues such as HIV and AIDS. The youth who have AIDS and even just HIV carriers are considered as social outcast and a stigma within the United State. This social discrimination discouraged many youth to even attempt to test their HIV status because this move might cause suspicions by his or her friends or colleagues As the result, I suggest the entire youth community to participate in the day such as the National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness day to test their HIV status for free. Therefore, it will help to break the discouragement so the youth community will truly comprehend their own HIV status to prevent the future unnoticed infection of other youth.
Ultimately, if the government and society support the effort of National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day on April 10th, the dream of AIDS-Free Generation will become an achievable future.
PS – Help us share the news about National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day by liking us on Facebook. And tell your friends!
— Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas and Kierra Johnson, Beyond Choice: How We Learned to Stop Labeling and Love Reproductive Justice
The war against women continues in Texas. It seems as if the attack against women’s health will not stop. Recently, Texas State Senators Deuell, Campbell, and Schwertner introduced Senate Bill 537. This bill also known as the “Back Door Abortion Ban” is an attempt to restrict a women’s basic right to living a healthy life. Under the guise of safety and more regulation, Senate Bill 537 would in fact not improve safety of abortion care, but instead place medically unnecessary requirements on health centers such as becoming licensed Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs).
These requirements would force all but five women health centers that offer abortion services to shut down in the state of Texas. This would have a devastating impact on thousands of women, especially low income women.  Low-income women and women of color who live in the rural parts of Texas do not have access to the necessary resources to protect themselves and live a healthy life. To attain a basic cervical cancer screening sometimes they need to take time off work and travel miles to go to the nearest health clinic.
My mother and myself are prime examples of this. We both do not have health insurance because we cannot afford it. My mother lives in South Texas and has traveled to Mexico to consult a doctor. She only goes to the doctor when about once every two years because she cannot afford losing a day of work, paying doctor visits, and buying prescribed medicine. I am a fourth year student at the University of Texas at Austin. I do not have my yearly check ups due the inability to afford health care insurance. It is difficult, frustrating and stressful living each day without health care and hoping you do not get sick and continue to work or pursue a higher education.
Texas has the highest percentage of women who are uninsured [1]. Also, Texas ranks one of the top ten highest rates of women having cervical cancer. Yet, the 2011 Texas Legislature cut 66 percent of family planning funds. About 300, 000 fewer women will now receive health care[2] . Unfortunately, Texas State legislature does not support women’s health. Every year, the state of Texas is limiting a women’s basic right to living a healthy life.
SB 537 is another example of the Texas State Legislature trying to limit women’s health rights in Texas. However, we will not let that happen because we decide what is best for our future. Young leaders in Texas such as myself working with the Young Women of Color Leadership Council with Advocates for Youth, Katy Waters Vice-President for Voices for Reproductive Justice at the University of Texas at Austin and organizations such as NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, and Planned Parenthood are working hard to make sure our communities are aware of what the Texas State legislature is doing. Through advocacy, lobbying, community outreach, petition drives, and speak outs at the Texas State Capitol we are making sure to create conversations with our families and friends All women in Texas deserve access to HIV tests, birth control, safe and legal abortions. Women’s health is not a just a women’s issue. It is an inclusive problem that affects everyone. Family planning cuts and closing down of abortion clinics will affect mothers, wives, daughters, husbands, sons and the list continues.
Simple actions such as following bills that may affect women’s lives and what is going on at the Texas legislature online at http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx or signing online petitions such as opposing SB 537 online https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=15903 to hold our political leaders accountable are ways communities can speak up.
[1] Guttmacher Institute. State Facts About Title X and Family Planning: Texas.http://www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/title-X/TX.html.
[2] Legislative Budget Board. http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/
Hello Sistahs!
I apologize for the late post, but the day is not over yet! Today is National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day! March 10th is a day women and girls come together in solidarity and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in our community!
Here are some stats from the CDC (2011) about HIV among women & girls:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/WomenGirlsHIVAIDS/
While these statistics are alarming, it is imperative to know the facts on HIV/AIDS in women & girls in order to raise awareness and hopefully lower the rates of HIV.
How can we protect ourselves from HIV/AIDS as women?
If you engage in sexual contact, use a condom every time. Women & girls often do not feel obligated to  carry condoms because of the stigma that it is a man’s responsibility to have protection. While carrying condoms may be intimidating, it is extremely empowering to know that you have the option to be safe while engaging in consensual sex.
* I highly recommend that women try the female condom 2, which you can purchase at your local Walgreen’s. You can check out more information on the female condom here:Â http://www.fc2femalecondom.com/home.html
Have conversations with your partner about safe sex and HIV. Get tested together and share your results. One of the most important assets to a healthy relationship is healthy communication.
Do your best not to engage in risky behavior that may inhibit your decision making skills, such as drinking or partaking in other drugs. Being intoxicated can make you more likely to engage in risky, unsafe sex.
GET TESTED!!! Always be aware of your status. If you are sexually active, it is recommended that you get tested every 6 months. You can find out where to get tested in your city here:Â http://hivtest.cdc.gov/Default.aspx
GO FORTH AND SPREAD THIS INFORMATION!!! Remember sistahs, our work to create an HIV/AIDS free environment in NOT finished! It all begins with you.
Here is a nice video from Facing AIDS that I found:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9jtweKQOX0
HIV/ AIDS
This life is a coin that is tossed all around without mincing words life is a collection of relationships and a shadow that revolves around itself. Life is also a teacher, she taught us to be kind nice, smart, and also be caution of our words in deeds and actions. More so I will relatively ascribe this to the story of my life which is tagged as an encounter of dividing shadow.
On warm working days, I woke up and had my prayer then took my bath and I got ready to leave for the office. I couldn’t get a bus going towards my direction of office location so I decided to take a cab; I waved down to some little taxi cab that plied the route. None stopped, so I became more anxious to leave at all cost because of not going late to the office. After 5minutes, a green Mercedes been car halted at my front and shouted a route of my destination which immediately I entered and the driver zoomed off. Inside the car was three passengers 2 ladies that sat with me at the back and a gentlemen who sat at the front of the car, I engager the lady who sat close to me which I later knew her name as Cassandra in a discussion which later formed a cry stale of my romantic affection for her Cassandra was in her best element and she was highly eloquent, bold and intelligent, I found her very unique and charming, so I requested for her mobile number. She was also very kind I opted to pay the driver for the transport fare she refused and quickly gave the driver money for the two of us. I was amazed at her benevolence spirit, I thanked her and we letter depart at our respected bus stop. five day later I called Cassandra and we are happy to hear each other voice aging, I told her firmly about her sterling qualities which I treasure and told her to please make me her soul mate . She thanked me also said she will think about the issued/matter later. About 2 weeks later, we agreed to go on data at a quiet garden in the town on that day , I told her on my intention formally and requested that she should tell me her own which she dose totally accepted me. Cassandra requested me to go for an HIV/AIDS test which I initially refuse about,  I later consented, to after a while I want and  my test result show me that am positive while I  later test on HIV/AIDS was negative,  can the central hold in this regard my esteem on this issue Cassandra wept and asked me why should I test to  HIV/AIDS these deadly scourge ravaging the society . The medical doctor and the counselor told us during The counseling time that a positive patient can marry negative patient and their children will not be positive, due to the why the doctor specify on their health and also a positive mother can also give birth to a negative child,  and well being what cans I do to this matter should she demand the doctors counsel or the test result and go ahead to marry Cassandra or I should leave very to fate to determining my healing but my stand is what I do not know now and the step for Word is what I will decide when I wake up tomorrow normal.
I always have an issue to talk about. I love to share, discuss, debate and dream to make huge change. Yes, I’m also aware about the steps I need to carry out to hoop success. Thus, this time with YUWA and Advocates for youth, I am entering into my new world to succeed my dream. This world is the world of women, society, and children but most importantly it is the world of youth. Youth is period of life between childhood to adulthood. Therefore, in this world, now I am working with these young people to advocate for Sexual and Reproductive issue and HIV&AIDS issue. This world, I see as a platform for me to explore my techniques regarding advocacy and knowledge of SRHR and HIV & AIDS whereas it directly and indirectly addresses these issues of young people.
In my new world I am an advocate carrying the youth issues and am pushing policy makers to change policy addressing these issues. In my new world I am a community worker and am designing programs so that more and more young people get awareness regarding these issues. In my new world I am an activist regularly working for the change in these issues. In my new world I am change maker working to change the perception and misinterpretation of people regarding Sexuality and HIV & AIDS. I believe, to change my society it is very necessary to involve people to work in these issues. Thus, with entering with youth issues I want to make new world.
After my experience campaigning for the GAAC and petitioning for World Aids Awareness Day, reading this article really solidified a couple of my experiences. I thought it important to share. When handing out free condoms I came across a good number of homosexual men on my campus who refused them claiming they didn’t need them. Some even asked me what I thought they could possibly need them for. I was surprised because I’d wrongly assumed that the homosexual community had a leg up on being educated about safe sex and diseases like HIV. While petitioning, many men were very open with me about being HIV positive. They told me their stories, including their regrets and hopes for the future. This article made me realize that it wasn’t just my experience or community but that misconceptions about safe sex and HIV are prevalent all over, making what we do extremely important.
Rachel MacDonald is a student at the University of Houston – Downtown where she serves as the President of the Texas Freedom Network Student Chapter. This is her first year to be a member of the Cultural Advocacy Mobilization Initiative (CAMI), a partnership of Advocates for Youth.
“When I introduce the concept of reproductive justice to new audiences, at lectures or workshops, I always frame it in the same way. I use a really simple exercise, where I draw a stick figure on a piece of butcher paper, or an easel, or a chalkboard. Then I ask the question: “What things in this person’s life will impact their ability to create the family they want to create?” Usually it takes a few minutes for the audience to get going, but within five or ten minutes the result is a stick figure with many, many issues written in bubbles around them. Things like religion, money, environment, language, race, gender, sexuality, laws, incarceration end up surrounding the person.
This activity is a pretty decent illustration of my definition of reproductive justice—it’s working to build a world where everyone has what they need to create the family they want to create. And that work requires incorporating and taking into account all of those items written in bubbles on the diagram, as well as many we probably leave out. Almost always this exercise results in “ah ha” moments, and it’s had a striking universality—from using it with college students to using it in Latina immigrant communities on the border. Reproductive justice is an easier concept to explain in ten minutes than in a two-word soundbite, like pro-choice, but that additional context also allows for so many more of the issues and challenges or our every day lives to be made visible and explicitly included in our work.”
http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/02/08/communicating-complexity-reproductive-justice/
In 2011, the sexual practice of 44% of men reported with HIV (and 41% of men reported with AIDS) was unknown. This is due to inadequate investigation and reporting of cases as well as unwillingness among men who engage in sex with other men to disclose their sexual practices. Of the total number of men reported with HIV, 4% (595) were identified as Bisexual and 3.5% (494) identified as Homosexual.
(JAMAICA HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC UPDATE)
Momma’s Hip Hop Kitchen To Host Event Encouraging Dialogue Around Educational Inequality
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Who: Momma’s Hip Hop Kitchen is an annual event designed to showcase female artists and use hip-hop to raise awareness around social issues.
What: This year’s event, titled â€No Limits…Knowledge is Power!’ features female educators, students, activists, DJs, emcees, b-girls, poets, visual artists and dancers who will convene to advocate for comprehensive sexual education curriculum in all school districts, smaller class sizes and educational opportunities for all children.Â
When: Saturday, March 2nd, 2013, from 2pm-5pm ET
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Where: Hostos Community College Main Theater
450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street
Bronx, NY
Media RSVP and Interview Requests: Kathleen Adams, mhhk@mhhk.org
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For more information visit:
Â
About MHHK:
Momma’s Hip Hop Kitchen (MHHK) is a multifaceted hip hop event designed to showcase women artists, especially women of color. MHHK serves as a social justice community-organizing platform that educates and empowers women of color on issues that impact their lives, including HIV/AIDS and reproductive justice. Our mission is to create a dynamic interactive exchange and safe space for all women of color to express themselves through art.
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Last night during the State of the Union address, President Obama reiterated his call for an AIDS-free Generation. In a speech that discussed some of our nation’s greatest challenges, we were glad to hear that the President still considers HIV and AIDS a priority for our nation. However, too often in this fight, young people and their needs are left out or ignored. That’s why young people from across the country have joined together to call for the first ever National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day to be held on April 10, 2013.
Take action now! Ask President Obama to endorse National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day!
Every month, 1,000 young people between the ages of 13 and 24 are infected with HIV in the United States. Over 34,000 young Americans are currently living with HIV and thousands do not know they are HIV positive.
Young people are leading amazing efforts in their communities to raise awareness, educate, and hold accountable our leaders. Already youth and adult allies across the country are planning events. From youth summits to town halls, bringing mobile testing units to campuses and hosting spoken words performances, the community is gearing up for a fantastic day.
But, more work remains to be done.
We need leadership from the White House in acknowledging our nation’s youth as a key population in this fight and we need a meaningful commitment to address the specific needs of young people.  Join us in emailing President Obama and asking him to recognize National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day.
We can reach an AIDS-free Generation, but we cannot do it without our nation’s youth.  Please take a minute and contact the President now!
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Last National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Feb 7th 2012, I, along with some of my friends and fellow activists, organized a free HIV testing event for students, faculty, and residents. The event was scheduled for 9AM – 3PM. Throughout the entire event, I noticed that an African American female employee at UVA kept lingering around; however, not actually signing up for the testing. She was between the ages of 35-40. I could tell that she wanted to come over and participate, but something was stopping her. I decided to go over and talk with her. I introduced myself and told her the purpose of having this event. I asked if she would like to sign up for testing. Now normally, I would not have directly approached someone and asked them if they wanted to have an HIV test, because I do not want to pressure them or make them feel awkward. However, in this situation, I felt something compelling me to approach this woman. She looked nervous when I asked if she wanted to complete a HIV test. To mollify her, I told her that I would get an HIV test with her (despite the fact that I already completed one less than 2 hrs prior). She agreed to do the testing, if I would go with her. I agreed. I escorted her to the private testing, then proceed to the adjacent testing room to complete my second HIV test. After we completed our HIV tests, I informed her that her results would be ready within 20 minutes. As we waited for the results, she stated “that wasn’t bad at all”. “See I told you!” I said. We chatted a while about her job at UVA, my classes, and the neighborhoods where we grew up. Before long, our respective HIV testing administrators called us back to the testing room to give us our results. We both entered our own private testing room to hear the results. When I finished hearing my results for the second time, I left the testing room and proceed to the lobby area where I saw her standing waiting for me. She stated with enthusiasm “I am HIV negative! Thank you for encouraging me to do this! I really appreciate it!”  I asked her, why she was so hesitant to have the HIV test. She stated “I was afraid that I may actually have it. And by having an HIV test done, I was afraid that people may think that I was out there or wild. Having an HIV test is almost an admission that you sleep around a lot”. I thought to myself, you would be ignorant of your heath and status because of fear of what others may think? I proceed to tell her that she conquered a great milestone and that she should encourage her family and friends to do the same. She stated “Yea, but black people are the least affected by HIV/AIDS”.
According to the CDC, “an estimated 240,627 blacks with an AIDS diagnosis had died in the US. In 2007, HIV was the ninth leading cause of death for all blacks and the third leading cause of death for black women and black men aged 35–44. African Americans are the most disproportionately impacted racial/ethnic group across all sub-populations (e.g., men, women, youth, MSM) in the United States – at all stages of the disease – from new infections to deaths.”  I began to wonder what lead her to believe that false premise. And do other people believe that premise?
What are some ways that we can prevent HIV/AIDS among our people?
In order to prevent HIV/AIDS we must first recognize the obstacles that abet African Americans in contracting and spreading the HIV virus. There are a number of factors that contribute to the prevalence of HIV among African Americans.
1.)Â Â Â Recycled lovers: HIV has a high prevalence in African Americans. We as African Americans tend to have sex with members of our racial group. Thus, further spreading the disease throughout our community and ethnic group.
2.)Â Â Â Socioeconomic status: associated with poverty, including limited access to high-quality health care, housing, and HIV prevention education, directly and indirectly increase the risk for HIV infection and affect the health of people living with and at risk for HIV infection.
3.)Â Â Â Lack of information: Many members within the African American community do not have access to correct information regarding HIV transmission and prevention. In addition to not having information about the disease itself, 1 in 5 African Americans with HIV do not know that they carry the virus.
4.)Â Â Â STIGMA: A big contributor to the prevalence of HIV among African Americans is stigma. Many people feel that by getting tested or educated about HIV/AIDS that it is an admission of sexually immoral behavior or practices. In addition, if a person has HIV/AIDS they are often ostracized and ridiculed in their community. As a result, many African Americans are hesitant and resistant to obtaining an HIV test.
All of these factors obviate African Americans from safeguarding themselves against the HIV virus. However, there is something that each of us can do to begin protecting ourselves and the people we love.
1.)Â Â Â Get tested/Get informed: Knowledge is power. By knowing our status, we can protect ourselves and our partners. In addition to getting tested, it is imperative that you obtain as much information about HIV, transmission and symptoms of HIV, prevention, and treatments for HIV if you may have it.
2.)Â Â Â Encourage others to get tested/informed: if HIV affects one of us, it affects us all. Take an active role in the fight against HIV by encouraging those around you to get tested and educated about HIV.
3.)Â Â Â Spread the information: Once you have obtained information for yourself, you are compelled to share it with family and friends. Let them know what they need to do to protect themselves.
If you are between the ages of 13 and 64, the CDC recommends that you be tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. Individuals are at an higher risk for contracting HIV if they are gay, bisexual, men who have sex with men (MSM), or have multiple sex partners. As a result, the CDC recommends that these individuals be tested yearly for the HIV virus.
Here are three good reasons for you to get an HIV test.
.
REFERENCES:
(oldie but goody)
Today, February 7, is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. I know you are probably wondering, “Why is this day significant?’” Well it is simple. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness day focuses on the act of being aware and being knowledgeable about an issue that disproportionately affects African Americans. Considering African Americans only make up approximately 14% of the US population, we account for over 40% of all new HIV infection cases. More so, In 2009, The estimated rate of new HIV infections for black women was 20 times as high as the rate for white women, and almost five times as high as that of Latinas. This, my beautiful women of color, is disturbing.
It is important of for us as women of color to acknowledge the statistics and do something about it. HIV/AIDS is not an issue that we should only think about once a year, but it is, instead, an issue that we should be thinking about year-long. Make your advocacy efforts a Movement, not a Moment.
Everyday someone is affected by AIDS, whether it’s by becoming infected, dying, or witnessing the experiences of a loved one. We have come a long way in research and prevention efforts yet the most important part must continue. We must take action now in the ways of starting and maintaining dialogue within our communities to reduce the negative stigma and encourage testing. Each One, Reach One, Teach One. Be your Sister’s Keeper.
Websites to check out:
http://www.nationalblackaidsday.org/
Â
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
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Last National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Feb 7th 2012, I, along with some of my friends and fellow activists, organized a free HIV testing event for students, faculty, and residents. The event was scheduled for 9AM – 3PM. Throughout the entire event, I noticed that an African American female employee at UVA kept lingering around; however, not actually signing up for the testing. She was between the ages of 35-40. I could tell that she wanted to come over and participate, but something was stopping her. I decided to go over and talk with her. I introduced myself and told her the purpose of having this event. I asked if she would like to sign up for testing. Now normally, I would not have directly approached someone and asked them if they wanted to have an HIV test, because I do not want to pressure them or make them feel awkward. However, in this situation, I felt something compelling me to approach this woman. She looked nervous when I asked if she wanted to complete a HIV test. To mollify her, I told her that I would get an HIV test with her (despite the fact that I already completed one less than 2 hrs prior). She agreed to do the testing, if I would go with her. I agreed. I escorted her to the private testing, then proceed to the adjacent testing room to complete my second HIV test. After we completed our HIV tests, I informed her that her results would be ready within 20 minutes. As we waited for the results, she stated “that wasn’t bad at all”. “See I told you!” I said. We chatted a while about her job at UVA, my classes, and the neighborhoods where we grew up. Before long, our respective HIV testing administrators called us back to the testing room to give us our results. We both entered our own private testing room to hear the results. When I finished hearing my results for the second time, I left the testing room and proceed to the lobby area where I saw her standing waiting for me. She stated with enthusiasm “I am HIV negative! Thank you for encouraging me to do this! I really appreciate it!”  I asked her, why she was so hesitant to have the HIV test. She stated “I was afraid that I may actually have it. And by having an HIV test done, I was afraid that people may think that I was out there or wild. Having an HIV test is almost an admission that you sleep around a lot”. I thought to myself, you would be ignorant of your heath and status because of fear of what others may think? I proceed to tell her that she conquered a great milestone and that she should encourage her family and friends to do the same. She stated “Yea, but black people are the least affected by HIV/AIDS”.
Â
According to the CDC, “an estimated 240,627 blacks with an AIDS diagnosis had died in the US. In 2007, HIV was the ninth leading cause of death for all blacks and the third leading cause of death for black women and black men aged 35–44. African Americans are the most disproportionately impacted racial/ethnic group across all sub-populations (e.g., men, women, youth, MSM) in the United States – at all stages of the disease – from new infections to deaths.”  I began to wonder what lead her to believe that false premise. And do other people believe that premise?
Â
What are some ways that we can prevent HIV/AIDS among our people?
In order to prevent HIV/AIDS we must first recognize the obstacles that abet African Americans in contracting and spreading the HIV virus. There are a number of factors that contribute to the prevalence of HIV among African Americans.
1.)Â Â Â Recycled lovers: HIV has a high prevalence in African Americans. We as African Americans tend to have sex with members of our racial group. Thus, further spreading the disease throughout our community and ethnic group.
2.)Â Â Â Socioeconomic status: associated with poverty, including limited access to high-quality health care, housing, and HIV prevention education, directly and indirectly increase the risk for HIV infection and affect the health of people living with and at risk for HIV infection.
3.)Â Â Â Lack of information: Many members within the African American community do not have access to correct information regarding HIV transmission and prevention. In addition to not having information about the disease itself, 1 in 5 African Americans with HIV do not know that they carry the virus.
4.)Â Â Â STIGMA: A big contributor to the prevalence of HIV among African Americans is stigma. Many people feel that by getting tested or educated about HIV/AIDS that it is an admission of sexually immoral behavior or practices. In addition, if a person has HIV/AIDS they are often ostracized and ridiculed in their community. As a result, many African Americans are hesitant and resistant to obtaining an HIV test.
All of these factors obviate African Americans from safeguarding themselves against the HIV virus. However, there is something that each of us can do to begin protecting ourselves and the people we love.
1.)Â Â Â Get tested/Get informed: Knowledge is power. By knowing our status, we can protect ourselves and our partners. In addition to getting tested, it is imperative that you obtain as much information about HIV, transmission and symptoms of HIV, prevention, and treatments for HIV if you may have it.
2.)Â Â Â Encourage others to get tested/informed: if HIV affects one of us, it affects us all. Take an active role in the fight against HIV by encouraging those around you to get tested and educated about HIV.
3.)Â Â Â Spread the information: Once you have obtained information for yourself, you are compelled to share it with family and friends. Let them know what they need to do to protect themselves.
If you are between the ages of 13 and 64, the CDC recommends that you be tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. Individuals are at an higher risk for contracting HIV if they are gay, bisexual, men who have sex with men (MSM), or have multiple sex partners. As a result, the CDC recommends that these individuals be tested yearly for the HIV virus.
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Here are three good reasons for you to get an HIV test.
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REFERENCES:
by Trina Scott, Senior Program Manager, Young Women of Color EmpowermentÂ
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a national HIV testing and treatment community mobilization initiative targeted at Blacks in the United States and the Diaspora. We’ll betweeting and posting on Facebook about events and resources throughout the day to#NBHAAD – follow us and re-tweet!
Recently I visited with students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) around the country to help them plan their February 7 events and what I saw was amazing. From candlelight vigils for those affected by the epidemic, to testing initiatives, to movie showings, student activists are leading the fight against AIDS. Visit our youtube channel to see them in action.
Campus organizers at the University of North Carolina are hosting the “I am AIDS campaign.”Share a picture of yourself with a sign indicating how you have been impacted by HIV/AIDS or why you’re involved with HIV Awareness work.
I’m excited to work with these and hundreds of other young people on HIV awareness and prevention today and thoughout the year – especially on the first ever National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day, April 10.
On February 7 and beyond, check out and share our resources on youth of color and HIV, including:
HIV and Young Black Gay Men: Finding the Courage to Stand for Their Lives
Youth of Color—At Disproportionate Risk of Negative Sexual Health Outcomes
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Text message conversation:
Friend: Becca!
Me: Haaaaaaaay!
Friend: What up!
Me: Chillin. You?
Friend: I gotta talk to you but I’ll text you in a bit….
oh man. this might be big.
Friend: Yo!
Me: What’s up ma?
Friend: Nothing what up?
Me: How was school?
Friend: Good!
Me: Thassssssswhatsup!
Friend: Fo sho! So Umm I gotta talk to ya…
breathe, Rebecca, breathe.
Me: What’s up?
Friend: So umm I kinda need something… From you..
Me: What?
Friend: Lol… Take a guess.. “be protected”
Me: For you?
no, Rebecca, for her cat. of course it’s for her. get it together!
Friend: Mhm.. Lol
Me: Is this something you want?
Friend: Not that I want, I need it. “stay protected” lol you have them…
Me: Yes I know, but have you and _____ talked about this? And have you had time to think about what you want?
Friend: Yes
Me: Okay, I had to ask. I trust you and I’m glad you asked me. Is there a certain time you need it by?
Friend: I don’t need it soon. Whenever you can (:
Me: Okay, well I want to make sure you have them for protection when and if you need them. I assume you haven’t talked to your mom about this?
why, Rebecca? why are you making assumptions? have you learned nothing from your social work classes??
Friend: We’ve had the “talk.”
Me: Ight lil’ ma. If you have any questions just ask
Friend: Ight I will (:
aww.
This was a conversation between a friend and I from a couple of weeks ago. If you can’t tell by the coy wording, we are talking about condoms and sex. Looking back on the conversation I wish I would have just said condoms and sex instead of “it.” What can I say? I was caught off guard. I have known this friend of mine all her life. She is a special person to me, and I consider her to be a little sister, especially since I don’t have any younger siblings. I have always been very open and honest with her, hoping that she would return the favor by trusting me, and I’m glad she did.
Back when I first began my activism with sex education and sexual health, I asked my middle/high school aged cousins and friends about the type of sex ed they were receiving in school. Some were a little embarrassed and tried to laugh my questions off, while others were straight forward and told me that they don’t remember learning anything, but that so and so was pregnant and had to leave school for a bit. No matter which way the conversation went, I always ended it with something like this, “I just want you to know that I will always be here for you, if you ever need anything. I’m in college, and I remember my years in high school; I know sex happens. I can’t tell you how to live your life, but I can tell you this, if you choose to have sex you should respect yourself and your partner by using protection.” I didn’t want to come off as preachy by telling them what to do, but I wanted to get a message across.
When I started having sex I had no formal education and had to research everything online. You can imagine how amazing that process went. I feel that I knew more than some of my peers because I knew that you could get pregnant “even if he pulls out,” and that you can’t get pregnant by having oral sex. However, I didn’t know that oral/anal sex are still sex, so condoms should still be used.
I have always had a great relationship with my parents, but in high school I was scared to talk to them about sex. Growing up in a devout Catholic household might have that effect. I wasn’t scared of them, but I didn’t want them to judge me or get angry. I didn’t know how to approach them. Now, things are much different. My parents are very much aware of the work that I do, and they respect me for it. While there is one particular issue we don’t see eye to eye on (I’m pro-choice, they are pro-life), we still respect each other and love each other. I often joke with my mom and tell her we will probably run into each other at a rally but will be on opposing sides. She rolls her eyes and responds with something like, “estas loca,” and I tell her to pray extra hard for me.
I love my parents, family, and friends. I’m glad that my relationships are always strengthening and growing thanks to the big questions and conversations that allow for both parties to gain trust. These conversations are important, not only for the obvious reasons like preventing pregnancy, STI’s, or HIV, but also to have healthy relationships with the people you love or care about.
â€I am tired of being ill-treated and falsely accused of being mentally ill and being treated with such scorn because of rumours that I am an HIV sero positive patient.’ These are some of the words left behind by Emmanuel Eyo in the early days of the year 2013. A 30 year-old Cameroonian young man, Emmanuel tired of life and committed suicide by throwing himself into the Wouri river- one of Cameroon’s most renowned and dangerous rivers.- in the early days of the year 2013.
Tired of being stigmatized by his family and people in the neighbourhood in which he lived, Emmanuel decided to put an end to his days. Though committing suicide has arguably never being a solution to stigma and discrimination, Emmanuel’s act in a country where many still consider HIV/AIDS to be a mysterious disease and a curse from the gods, is comprehendible and raises questions about   the treatment of people Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
This blog might be about Emmanuel, but what may be hard for you to imagine is that, like in Emmanuel’s case, many suicide cases in Douala and other towns are happening because of  stigma related to being HIV positive. It is becoming clear from these acts of suicide that  stigmatization is rising and having a ravaging effect on the physical and mental health of PLWHA in Cameroon.
The above observation is quite paradoxical because it is largely observed that the level of awareness on HIV/AIDS has increased among Cameroonians in the past decade while at the same time the number of people committing suicide for reasons related to stigma and discrimination because of their serological status is rising. Urgent action  needs to be taken if this must be stopped.
In recent years, commendable efforts have been made by Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health, Civil Society Organisations(CSOs),United Nations’ agencies, and other development partners to fight against HIV/AIDS and avoid any new infections. That said,  the fact is that the emphases of the different campaigns  and programs implemented by these stakeholders has been around raising awareness about the existence of HIV/AIDS and how to   avoid or protect oneself against it with little or nothing done around the stigma suffered by young people like Emmanuel because of their serological status . In my opinion, this gap in programming could explain the fact that despite rising levels of awareness about HIV/AIDS, the level of stigma towards PLWHA appears to be increasing instead of decreasing.
It is high time that the clinical approach to the fight against HIV/AIDS, which is dominant in initiatives and programs run by various community stakeholders in Cameroon, be complimented by the community approach to fighting against HIV/AIDS. When given its place in the fight against HIV/AIDS, sufficient attention will be paid to socio- cultural and religious factors that impact  perceptions that people have of PLWHA in their communities.  In order to truly combat stigma, integrating a community-based approach must be  given the place that it deserves in the formulation of policies and implementation of health programs.
Stigma is an important factor in the effective fight against HIV/AIDS and should be considered as such. I am convinced that, unlike Emmanuel’s story which l have shared with you through this blog, untold is the story of millions of PLWHVA, especially the young people among them, who are languishing in stigma and wishing that they had  never been born. Let’s act now, all together, to make the fight against stigma become as important as the distribution of condoms. It is only by so doing that we can effectively fight not only against HIV/ AIDS but also against the stigma and discrimination that is killing PLWHA in my country.
It’s the New Year and as 2013 begins in most parts of the world, loved ones and people you are in anyway close to express their wishes  for you in diverse ways. One popular way of expressing  wishes to others for the New Year is through greetings cards and I did receive quite a good number of them this year. Unlike in the past years, I decided to make a careful study of the messages on these greetings cards. â€This Guy is crazy!’, is the thought that might be lingering in your mind. Just stay with me so that I can  share my surprising discovery.
Though written in different styles and strongly influenced by the nature of my relationship with the sender of the greetings card, there is a wish that was omnipresent in all the messages: Wishes of Good Health. The result of this crazy study revealed to me how much Cameroonians care about their health.
The health of the average Cameroonian, like that of any normal human being in the world, is very important to him/her. What would vary might be the approach to ensuring that they stay healthy and maintain an equilibrium that is necessary for them to live a life worth living. Important as being healthy might be to Cameroonians, they are not unaware of the barriers to staying healthy. Talking about barriers to staying healthy in Cameroon, if you ask any Cameroon what the greatest barrier to staying healthy is, you would likely  hear him/her answer  â€ACCESS’.
While it is clear from all indications that access to health is a stumbling block to Cameroonian’s staying healthy, it should be noted that even where these health facilities are available, users complain bitterly of the quality of the services rendered. Thus, it is common place to see a health practitioner sarcastically questioning   a teenage girl about the reason for her pregnancy and making fun of her pregnancy by using very insulting and violent language. Worst still, it is common place to get a health practitioner who openly discusses results of the medical test of  his/her patients without any sense of guilt or fear. The judgemental nature and lack of confidentiality in Cameroon’s health services is so widespread and across all spheres of society that a government minister recently declared that a journalist who had been tortured to death while in detention had died of HIV/AIDS.
With judgemental attitudes like these from health professionals and lack of confidentiality, no wonder an ever increasing number of pregnant teenagers refuse to go for prenatal checkups. To stay clear of insults and other traumatising language and behaviours, they thus decide to stay at home with the risks that this carries.
It is high time the quality of health services in existing health facilities be improved so that patients,especially young persons, can have the best possible experience and not be afraid, for instance, to get an  HIV test because they are not sure the results will remain between them and the health professionals.
The quality of health services, though often ignored, is an important factor in reinforcing the access of  young people in particular and society at large to health facilities and should be considered as such by policy makers and health professionals. The availability of health facilities that have little or no consideration for the quality of the services offered creates more problems than it solves.
Tell Them is proud to announce the release of a new report: 25 Years and 250,000 Teen Pregnancies Later.
This report examines the multitude of research surrounding the need for comprehensive sex education programs in South Carolina.
The report highlights 5 major problems with current sex education programs:
The Comprehensive Health Education Act was passed in 1988. Twenty-five years later, we are still facing the same problems. Condom use among teens is down (67% used condoms in 2005, 58% used condoms in 2011); more than 50% of high school students (and nearly 20% of middle school students) report that they have already had sex; and there are an average of 68 newly reported cases of Chlamydia or Gonorrhea in youth every day.
This should enrage every parent in our state. Let’s see this report as the catalyst for change. Visit www.reformsexed.org now and email your legislator. Tell Them that you support sex ed reform and demand that we get comprehensive sex education programs in our schools.
While the report focuses on information released Monday by the New Morning Foundation in their new report A Sterling Opportunity, the Tell Them analysis also examined recent studies by the South Carolina State Alliance for Adolescent Sexual Health, the SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, the 2010 US census, the CDC’s annual youth risk behavior surveys and a regional report published last year. For a complete list of sources, visit our webpage.
Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia’s Prison systems are being called out for some practices that treat HIV positive prisoners with discrimination. It has been reported that they are forced to wear arm bands and different color inmate suits to make their health status unmistakable. The discriminated prisoners are also forced to miss out on rehabilitation activities that could help them readjust to the real world after release. I think HIV education would greatly affect the way the prison system treats HIV positive inmates. Everyone should be taught and reminded that male and female condoms are safe and effective at preventing both STD and HIV… and as we all know, safe sex is a great start to preventing discrimination of prisoners!
Timothy Brown is the only man known to be cured from HIV. This news is confirmation to my unsupported theory that HIV is curable. Honestly, I thought that Magic Johnson would have been the first to be cured of HIV because of all of his money and resources, but apparently not! Brown was diagnosed with HIV in 1995, and his story was reported in a scientific journal which cited that “gene therapy” as the reason why he was cured. They took genes that were immune to HIV and transfused them to his biological system. This is a modern day miracle and breakthrough that will change HIV treatment forever. Until we have a day when a cure for HIV/AIDS is affordable to everyone, we must remember to always use condoms consistently and correctly to reduce the contraction of HIV and other STDs
In 2011, youth ages 13 through 14 accounted for 23% of new HIV cases in North Carolina.  Alarmingly, the cohort with the highest percentage of new HIV cases in 2011 was among ages 20 through 24 who accounted for 17% of the new HIV cases. The next highest affected cohort was among ages 25 through 29 coming in at 14% of the new HIV cases.  Despite the drop in new HIV cases across the different age cohorts between 2010 and 2011, the age range 20 through 24 still accounted for 17% of new HIV case in North Carolina. In fact, the number of new HIV cases from 2010 to 2011 increased for the cohort 20 through 24 year olds.
In 2010, of the 499,846 first time freshmen enrolled in Higher Education, 62.8 % of them were between the ages of 18 through 24. Currently there is no data tracking the number of LGBT identified people between the ages of 18 through 24 year attending higher education in North Carolina. Also, there is no data specifically tracking the number of new HIV cases among those in higher education in North Carolina.  These statistics provide a compelling reason to focus on HIV/AIDS awareness that specifically target people between the ages of 18 and 24 in places they gather, such as college campuses.
On possible solution is to require Freshmen and Transfer students to take a course in Comprehensive Health Education that covers in depth HIV and STDs, Contraception and Abstinence, Healthy Relationships and Communication and Rape, being inclusive of both straight and LGBT College  students.
Sources: (North Carolina 2011 HIV/STD Surveillance Report, Report Compiled by: N.C. Division of Public Health, N.C. Department of Health & Human Services, http://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/cd/stds/figures.html)
(Statistical Abstract of Higher Education in North Carolina, 2010-11, Report Compiled by: Daphne Dow, Social Research Associate Institutional Research and Analysis UNC General Administration, http://www.northcarolina.edu/reports/index.php)
Women living with HIV&AIDS have to deal with many challenges. They may face stigma from other people, a lack of support, unemployment, low income, low self-esteem, sexual assault, and depression and these are just a few of the problems that women face.
HIV does not directly cause depression. But depression is twice as common in people with HIV as in the general public. Depression is a separate medical issue that needs to be treated. Research shows that depression can speed up HIV’s progression to AIDS.
Symptoms of depression include:
Diagnosing depression can be hard in someone with HIV. Some HIV symptoms and side effects of the HIV drug are the same as those of depression. These include fatigue, low sex drive, little appetite, confusion, nightmares, nervousness, and weight loss. But a true loss of interest in activities that someone used to enjoy is a sign that a person is depressed.
Treatment, such as talk therapy and antidepressants, usually can help people with depression. Antidepressants are usually safe for people with HIV. But there may be interactions with other drugs, so it’s important that you let your doctor know about any and all medicines you are taking and that you both watch for side effects. Do not use St. John’s wort, a drug or tea that some people use to treat mild symptoms of depression. It has harmful interactions with HIV medicines. Visit our section on mental health for more information.
As the Affordable Care Acts is slowly implemented throughout the country, experts are now recommending that everyone between the age of 15 and 65 be routinely tested for HIV. The beauty in the recommendation is that patients will not have to pay out of packet expenses for the measure because the testing will be covered as a part of their routine check-up. I believe this is an important step as advocates seek to normalize HIV testing as a means of making strides towards a HIV/AIDS free future. Since a large percentage of individuals may not know their status, routine testing would provide early detection as well as provide those persons with early treatment. This is great news as we try to make strides towards an AIDS free future!
Check out the article for yourself: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/11/20/1219481/hiv-testing-covered-obamacare/
Hello everyone,
My company Off The Record Apparel is having a charity college tour this spring to promote safe sex, condom use, and HIV/AIDS awareness in schools. We will be teaming up with 15 major colleges in 5 states, over 20 different artists, bands, and speakers, and countless sponsors to bring good music, good food, good fun, and REAL FACTS to students. A portion of all vendor proceeds and all ticket sales will go to local charities also involved in the cause. We are currently looking for more artists, speakers, vendors, sponsors, volunteers, and even promotors to help in any way that they can.
If you or any one you know would be interested in this opportunity, or have any questions, email us at offtherecord313@gmail.com. You can also like us at facebook.com/OffTheRecord313 or go to OffTheRecordApparel.com for updates and info.
December 1, 2012: World Aids Day.
December 27, 2012: I realize the article I wrote for World Aids Day never uploaded….so…HERE IT IS!
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Being young, African American, and female is like being Primrose Everdeen with no Katniss to back you up. Frequently I find myself in the position where the odds are not in my favor, especially when it comes to health issues. Health disparities are a very real thing in America and they suck.
So when someone tells me that it’s World Aids Day the first thing I think is : YES! I LOVE AWARENESS Days!
Because I do, and HIV/Aids happens to be one of those diseases a lot of people care about so it’s awareness month is usually filled with tons of factual information and solid communication on how to decrease transmission.
In fact, HIV/Aids advocates are so good at their job that sometimes people feel like they’re getting mixed messages. It isn’t uncommon to encounter the following conversation.
Civilian: “So HIV/Aids is not a death sentence?”
Advocate: “No.”
Civilian: “But it is deadly?”
Advocate: “Yes!”
Civilian: “But how can it be deadly and not a death sentence?”
Advocate: “HIV/Aids is hard to handle and should be avoided by using safe sex practices, but those who have contracted it aren’t doomed to a short and horrible life.”
Civilian: “….so it’s not a death sentence?”
Advocate: *facepalm* *sigh* “No.”
My second thought when someone tells me that it’s World Aids Day: I wonder how this affects women of color.
Now, I truly do care about everyone who has been and/or could be affected by HIV/Aids (which is to say I care about everyone. BECAUSE ANYONE CAN BE AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS).
But I’m selfish, so I always like to know how it directly affects ME and people like me.
And the picture isn’t pretty. It isn’t pretty at all.
Now there are a lot of statistics out there on everything. Like everything. Ever. Just Google something that sounds like it might have statistics and you will probably find some.  So I don’t really like quoting them at people, but when it comes to HIV and Aids, statistics are pretty important so I’m going to link you to a CDC report at the bottom of this article.
However, instead of said article, instead of statistics, we’re going to have a very very very abbreviated conversation on why the aforementioned statistics are so horrible. It’s not because young black women are hoes, no matter what Trinidad says about certain females that attend certain prestigious colleges.
No, there are many reasons that contribute to African American women making up 57% of women who contracted HIV in 2009, but the reasons I am going to talk about are called the social determinants of health.
Social determinants of health are, quote, “The conditions and circumstances into which people are born, grow, live, work, socialize, and build relationships, and the systems that are in place to deal with health and wellness.”
One major social determinant is POVERTY.
BECAUSE BEING POOR SUCKS.
And unfortunately, a disproportionate amount of women of color are poor.
Having reduced access to hospitals/clinics because of where you live, having increased anxiety and stress due to not being able to pay your light bill or you water bill, or your bill bill, in addition to classicism, racism, sexism, etc. posing a multitude of problems just in general, makes it difficult to do ANYTHING, including accessing adequate health care. Which, of course, makes it SO MUCH EASIER for one to have a more unhealthy life.
And that’s in AMERICA. Just think of the REST of the world.
Inequality sucks in general. But when it contributes to something like HIV/Aids, it evolves from being intolerable to unconscionable. So I want us all to think beyond even just ending HIV/Aids to ending everything that contributes to the spread of it.
It’s an ambitious goal but together we can take the steps to get there.
My last thought when someone tells me that it’s World Aids Day is ripped off the Greater than Aids commericals and heavily edited:
Like everything else that sucks in the world, Aids started on person at a time.
And like everything else that sucks in the world, we have to end it, one person at a time.
Together we can improve the odds.
So wrap it up, spread the word, AND HAPPY WORLD AIDS DAY! (except not because it passed but still).
CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/women/index.htm
Check out SWARM-er Darian James’s experience at the World AIDS Day march in Orangeburg, SC!
Talking about young people in the part of the world where I come is already a sensitive issue and adding â€rights’ which is another very explosive issue to this makes advocacy for the placing of youth rights at the heart of development a very difficult but not an impossible task. Behind these words lies the fears, doubts, and optimism of a participant at the just ended International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD)-Beyond 2014 Global youth Forum (GYF) which held from the 4th to the 6th December 2012.They are also the words that come to my mind whenever I think about this forum and the impact its outcomes will have on the future of young people and therefore our world as a whole. The fruits of the optimism raised and the hopes re-enkindled by the ICPD-Beyond 2014 GYF not only in the young persons that attended this event but above all in the lives of the millions of young persons that are marginalized, down trodden, and persecuted because of their gender, age, political choices, and sexual orientation, will no doubt become reality as youths irrespective of their social status, religious beliefs, and gender have been empowered and energized by this forum. With most of the recommendations from the ICPD-Beyond 2014 GYF urging governments, international bodies, and civil societies to recognize the rights of all young persons especially the marginalized, suffering and persecuted(the girl child, sexual minorities, rural dwellers, the uneducated) and establish an enabling environment for the potentials of every young person to be unleashed and his/her dreams fulfilled, the forum is ended but has opened an avenue for youths to claim what is theirs and take their places in decision making cycles in their various countries. Enlightened, empowered, and inspired by the passion and enthusiasm I witnessed in Bali, the following words came to my mind in the evening of the 6th of December as the forum ended: â€What happens when it comes time to part? Well you know how when you’re listening to music from another room and you’re singing along, because it’s a tune you really love, when the door closes, or a train passes, and you can’t hear the music anymore, but you sing along anyway?’ Just like the song described in this scene from the movie, â€Music from Another Room’, the journey towards achieving youths rights might have begun long ago, Bali marked a new beginning in this fight for the rights of young people in all their diversity to be recognized and respected in the society where they live.
Young Women of Color Leadership Council member, Januari Mckay, is a 2012 Mayor’s Community Service Award recipient. Januari was recognized with the Advocate Award for HIV/AIDS. This award recognizes a Washington, DC resident who has demonstrated exemplary commitment to HIV/AIDS education and prevention through volunteerism and service. Through her efforts as a member of the Young Women of Color Leadership Council and her volunteer work with many organizations in the District, Januari has devoted countless hours to addressing the HIV epidemic in our Nation’s capital, especially among women of color. As the first young woman of color to receive this honor, she is a role model for the young people she works with and exemplifies what hard work and dedication is. Â
Earlier this week, Januari was honored at a ceremony where Mayor Vincent Gray spoke about the importance of community service and the vital role volunteers play in improving our communities and the lives of others. Januari’s humility, dedication and selflessness in all of the work that she does for her community is truly inspiring.  Januari represents the amazing work young people are capable of doing in addressing HIV/AIDS in our communities. We all have potential to be amazing leaders in our communities to create change, regardless of our age, so we must get out and make it happen!
PERSPECTIVES ABOUTÂ HIV/AIDS FREE GENERATION;
We have been battling with HIV/Aids for some years now. We believe that if we all work together, we can wipe out this terrible disease, please join the fight by sharing these important facts about HIV/AIDS with your family and friends. AIDS is strong, but together we are stronger. AIDS loses when we all know how it spreads and how to stop it. We can help the spread of HIV/AIDS by showing care and support to the people living with the virus. We are working to bring to an end mother to child transmission because since a mother has been infected, the child could also be affected, but through proper counseling, it can be prevented. Also, some areas that we need to look into are as follows.
1: Avoid unprotected sexual intercourse.
2: Avoid sharing sharp objects.
3: Avoid having multiple sex partners.
Most especially, the young ones or the youths who are not married should learn to abstain from sex because HIV/AIDS could be contracted through this means. Both young and old must be aware of the disease and know the reasons why we must come together to form an HIV/ AIDS free generation to make the world a better place. Another alternative means to be protected is by using the A. B. C types.
A-Â Â Â Â Abstain
B-Â Â Â Â Â Be faithful to your partner
C-Â Â Â Â Â Use a condom
With all this, you can be free
For sure, YUWA is not only non-governmental and non-profitable organization that is youth led and youth run. But the reality is YUWA is only organization, which is different than all other. From its programming style to innovative ideas, YUWA beliefs youth as a charm of age and thoughts. Expanding its national advocacy to the international advocacy, YUWA has collaborated with MTV Staying alive foundation, for one year project, “I understand HIV”. YUWA is implementing this project through “Reaching out young minds”, a day workshop. The objective of this program is to provide young people with the basic information about HIV and assess their knowledge to empowerment. Basically, participants are from Health background; there is a common platform for diverse ideas of youths regarding HIV.
Dhangadhi is situated as the far-west side of Nepal. Not only the bad conservative and traditional thoughts, but also there are prevailing major social evils like girl trafficking, Dowry system, Chaupadi, Deuki, traditional healing practices, etc. It is alike evolution of ideas to share something on sexual and reproductive issues. It was great tie for me to share my experiences working on HIV and off course to learn new things from youths. Through the 7 hours workshop at Kailali Multiple Campus we have four major sessions followed by group work and presentations. 22 Participants were from different background like, BPH, MBBS, Staff nurse, Health Assistant, Bachelors in Social work, Bsc. Nursing, and Pharmacy. With lots of ideas from those youths I found there are still negative thoughts regarding HIV; nursing girls over there were having conservative beliefs. Very less feel free even to talk on sexual issues. I must praise for YUWA schedule for rapid rapport building among the participants. We have started the program through interesting mode of introduction followed by 7 hours sessions on different perspectives of HIV. I must say we have T-shirt, launch and tea for motivating the participants. Though, Youth are themselves a source for energy, we practiced different energizers following each sessions. We assessed the youth perspectives on HIV and youth dynamic during first session. Introducing fundaments on HIV, we had a great time for discussion on: Defining turning a tide together, Stigma and discrimination, and what youth can do against HIV. I got different innovative ideas on defining turning a tide. Basically, each 4 groups had well presented based on above topics. All group members had commented on each others presentation. I found youth at Dhangadhi were lacking such an platform for forwarding and updating their knowledge. This is mostly due to lack of affordable modern technologies and knowledge among youths. There was lack in presentation skill as well. Apart from program participants at Kathmandu, participants at Dhagadhi were much back in exploring and exposing their ideas and skills. It was sad to hear that most youths hadn’t perform such form of presentation in front of mass of minds.
After a well sharing through group work we had a great time with documentary screening on HIV. Two short movies were screened through program, which was really appreciated by the participants. Actually, documentary screening is the means for striking the real emotions in real minds. I had presented a while about the AIDS 2012 conference and its theme, “Turning a tide together”. Participants loved this idea of presentation through images from conference defining turning a tide together. I had also presented a practical based lobbying tips. As a final session we had an Advocacy and social media. That was quite interesting and practical according to youth to youth suggestions; comments. We presented how YUWA with innovative ideas performing an advocacy on HIV. We had ended this program through evaluation of the sessions. That comes true; YUWA’s program are unique and different than how other do. Actually, we have energy and rapid rapport building as a major tool that stands against every conventional ways of getting the things done. With lots of suggestions through this “Reaching out young minds” program, we had captured the moments at Dhangadhi through pictures and videos. Thanks to Dhangadhi youths. Jaya YUWA
Last week for the first time I did something, I took actions against the venereal and incurable disease called HIV/ AIDS. I have often participated in speeches about it, but it was the first time that I made an effort and I felt good and proud for doing it.
Throughout that day, the media pounded the TV station with statistics of the disease. They had all sort of debates and panels. All the while I was listening it almost meant nothing; everything went from one ear to the other. However, later when I was doing the walk with 1000 of others, I remembered something and started to wonder and question myself.
See, a few days before December 1st, I had conservation with a good friend who told me that she had unprotected sex. Being aware of all contraceptive options she decided to take the “morning after” pill. Of course, my questions to her were “what the heck were you thinking? Was the condom so far?” She said nope it was not, she added that she thought about it and wanted to go get it, but the person she was with, was somebody she knew her entire life, so her only worry was early pregnancy.
So, as I walked with the others and remembering the media mentioning the number people who are living with HIV and don’t even know it, my friend came to mind. How many of us are properly informed, but when it comes to it we choose to trust the other person instead of standing strong for what we know.
With the high number of youth living with the virus unknowingly, should we as advocates make sure to add “trust no one and always wear a condom” every time. Our fight against unwanted pregnancy is working, but what do we do about those who don’t know they have this disease, what do we do about those who choose to trust despite of what they know and completely forget that this disease exist.
I will admit it and such is true for a lot people, in the passion moment  with someone that you know and probably trust HIV does not come to mind as much as early pregnancy.
On Friday November 30th, 2012 is national HIV/aids awareness day. Where people come from all over Ohio to gather in front of tower city in Cleveland Ohio. To celebrate another year of aids awareness, during that time several speakers are going to come an speak about how HIV/aids impact their lives an for many this is an important topic, including me just seeing the different ethnicity’s an different genders. I see why i should be a part of world aids day.This means a lot to me in so many ways hearing people talk about how the support of many people that HIV/aids seeing people up in there age talk about how they had it and is still living with it, an going strong that really makes me want to go out an do what they do. Seeing people coming together just for one day that really do bring a tear to my eye and another beat to my heart cause if we can have people to support use for one day this then people to support use for one day like this then just think when we have the whole state of Ohio come together we will make a change one person at a time.
Another day has come and gone over Bali ICPD Beyond 2014 Global Youth Forum.But as days come and go, the discussion intensifies and young people are more demanding to their governments, religious and traditional authorities, parents, and society at large.
Universal access to education,inclusive education, relevant education, quality education ,financing and partnerships, as well as ccomprehensive sexuality education were identified by participants at the ICPD beyond 2014 Global Youth Forum participants as being vital for comprehensive education to become a reality in our world and were thus recommended in that other for discussion by the United Nations and possible inclusion in its post-2015 international  development agenda.
Transitions to decent work, and famiies,youth Rights and well being are the themes which were on the discussion table today.These being of course issues which are relevant to every young person irrespective of where he/she hails, the debate in the plenary was so intense and continued into the various work groups.
During the plenary on transitions to decent employment, it was revealed by the International Labour Organisation’s representative that we now have the highest number of unemployed youths that the world has ever. Also, during this plenary it was disclosed that 1 in 9 young workers in Africa are in the informal sector, 4 out of 10 young workers are working on a temporary basis, and 5 in 10 low paid persons are youths.
Productivity, fairness, and rewarding are the major characteristics of a decent job as defined by the International Labour Organisation(ILO). If one is to go by this definition, one will have no choice but agree with the above statistics. One other area in which there was total agree is on the fact that  stronger families, respect of youth rights, and the well being of youths are the basis for any society and so for a world at peace with itself, there was need for these issues to be tackled with maximum care.
According to Mr.Anatole Makosso, the president to the conference of African youth ministers and youth minister of Congo Brazzaville, there exist three reasons for governments to carefully consider the above mentioned issues and ensure that the needs of youths are met: They are the majority, they are the future, they will not identify with any decisions taken without them.
Another day is come and gone, and the desire for action by youths on the part of their governments has not faultered Youths want to make the Bali declaration not only a declaration but a platform for action. Hear our voices!
What a long awaited and historic day for mankind has today being. The ICPD Beyond 2014 Global Youth Forum was officially opened today. In the presence of  close to a thousand participants, Indonesian officials, and representatives of governments the world over, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA’s executive Director , in his speech  decried the situation in which so many young people, especially those in the global south, live in before pointing  out the importance of this event, and then inviting representatives of governments and those he termed “Seniors” to look at the young people around them and challenge how they relate to them, and then think of how they can release the potentials of these young people.
Further setting the context of the Bali ICPD Beyond 2014 Global Youth Forum, the Indonesian minister for people’s welfare, declared that: we believe that a meaningful dialogue is necessary on the means and ways of engaging young people to release their potential. He further emphasized that , young people need to understand the values of life that will make them stay healthy, be educated, foster family life, actively participate in building the world they have always dreamed of.
Staying healthy, comprehensive education, transition to decent work for youth, Families, youth rights and well being, leadership and meaningful youth participation, and realizing youth rights are the themes which will be discussed and recommendations made by the over 650 participants for discussion and adoption by the UN member states as one of its post-2015 agenda.
Staying healthy and comprehensive education were tackled today in discussion groups (world Cafés) and recommendations made on the former. Access to data, putting in place of an enabling environment for youths by governments, religious and traditional authorities, access to  quality, affordable, and comprehensive health services, and finally the abolition of laws and policies that  that hinder youth empowerment  are the recommendations that came out from the 15 sort of work groups that brainstormed on this topic. The recommendations on the comprehensive education will be presented  tomorrow, Wednesday December 5th 2012.
It should be noted that the above recommendations were arrived at by participants including representatives of governments, UN agencies, and civil society in a very interactive, safe, and open environment  after attending the plenary session that addressed the issue of staying healthy for a young person. At this plenary Advocate for Youth’s Meredith Waters acting in her capacity as young person commentator for this theme, declared amid thunderous applause from the audience  that: the Global Youth Forum is a great way to start but not enough. Dr Nafsia Mboi, Indonesian minister of health, answering to questions from the participants declared to conclude the plenary that: Every person, I repeat every person including young people has the right to health.
Good as the speeches may be, world leaders should be conscious that young people are tired of speeches and want to see concrete actions being taken solve the pile of problems in which young people from all part of our beloved world are drowning. World leaders! Take action now or be fired! We are ready for the fight and I assure you we will always out power you; for we are the majority.
Applications for the Spring 2013 Great American Condom Campaign are open!
Friends, we are once again searching for the most bold and visionary college students from around the United States to receive five hundred Trojan Brand condoms to distribute on their college campuses.
We select one-thousand SafeSites every semester to participate in this nation-wide youth-led grassroots movement to make the United States a sexually healthy nation. Each year, GACC members give out one million Trojan Brand condoms on college campuses across the United States, educate their peers about sexual health, and organize to improve the policies that affect young people’s health and lives.
What kind of ingenious plans will you come up with to distribute them this time? Condom lollipops? Condom scavenger hunt? Condom raffle tickets? Condom demonstration flash mob? Dress up as a giant chicken/duck/goose/platypus laying plastic eggs filled with condoms, candy and fun facts in strategic areas to welcome the spring? THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!
The application deadline is December 31st and it only takes about 10 minutes to fill out. Apply now!
Do it for your country.
PS – Check out the GACC Facebook page to learn more and see the amazing ways SafeSites are distributing condoms, educating, and organizing.
We had another amazing World AIDS Day candlelight procession and program in Cleveland, Ohio this year! Â Our community came together once again to hear featured HIV+ speakers, community and faith leaders, and performers. Â We supported one another as we remembered those who we have lost to this vicious disease and we came together to continue the fight against HIV and AIDS.
I want to share a couple of highlights from the evening. Â One of Ohio’s premier drag troupes, the Cleveland Kings and Girls once again inspired the crowd with a message of fighting the stigma and working towards an AIDS Free Generation:
Cleveland Kings and Girls Special Performance for World AIDS Day
We also had the honor of having Ohio Senator Nina Turner address the crowd with a powerful message reminding us that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers:
Ohio Senator Nina Turner speaks out for World AIDS Day 2012
Thank you to our amazing community!
Fighting HIV/AIDS and other diseases like malaria is one the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) voted by the United Nation’s in the year 2000. Given that this fight seems to be slowing down and that more than 5% of Cameroonians are living with HIV/AIDS-60% of which are women and 40% falling in the youths category-there is a cause for concern on the strategy to be used for the achievement of MDGs.
Conscious that handicapped persons are also celebrated in December and given that living with HIV/AIDS is more and more considered a handicapped. This article is going to dwell on the inclusion of the handicapped in the achievement of MDGs.
Concerning the non-achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by most countries of the global south, much has been said and so much more left unsaid. But if there is one thing that has so often been ignored by policy makers, politicians and all those in charge of implementing policies that will lead to a timely achievement of MDGs, it the absence of human rights in these goals. The non-inclusion of human rights in the MDGs means the exclusion of handicapped persons, indigenous people, and other minority groups in their achievement.
Given that handicapped persons constitute 10% of Cameroon’s population and are among the poorest people in the country, it is evident that talking of poverty, the fight against hunger, improvement of maternal health care and reduction of infant mortality child is pretentious if nothing is done to the more than 85% of these handicapped persons aged14-64 years who are jobless and the other 15% of them who are confined to shoe mending, shoe shinning and other informal sector activities.
Also, talking about achieving universal access to education without paying particular attention to the fact that less than 5% of handicapped children in Cameroon can afford to
go to school with only 2% of these handicapped children completing secondary school, is wishful thinking.  What about the ever increasing number of albino children who because of their sight defect and the inability of their parents to buy them glasses drop out daily from school?
The government of Cameroon recruited 25000 certificate holders in 2011 under a special recruitment scheme. But none of them was an handicapped person and as if this was not enough, a good number of handicapped persons were sent away from public schools because they could not afford to pay the required fees. This despite the fact that they are officially exempt from the payment of school fees in public schools in Cameroon. To protest against the above acts, the handicapped organized a protest march in front of the prime minister’s office in October 2011 but were violently dispersed by the police and military forces.
Can we say of a country whose government carries out such horrible acts against its own very population, even if it achieves all the MDGs, that it is developed? Can MDGs be achieved if the strategy to achieve them is not inclusive? Can the achievement of MDGs, as they are now, lead to sustainable development?
My answer to the above questions is â€NO’. Because I am intimately convinced that, unless inclusive and people-centered, no development plan can produce any sustainable results. It is high time for our government and civil society to listen to and amplify the voices of the handicapped so that they are heard and acted upon by policy making and implementing structures because like all poor people, “they long to belong to, and participate in their communities on equal footing with others. Most of all, they do not want charity. They want opportunity”, as former world bank President James Wolfehnson once put it. Anything short of this will make the achievement of MDGs in Cameroon, even by 2035, a far-fetched dream.
How can one expect a country like Cameroon to achieve the MDGs related to literacy, health, and economic empowerment when it does not take the handicapped into consideration when designing and constructing public buildings and other infrastructure like roads, hospitals, universities, and schools?
How can one expect Cameroon to be democratic, united, and emerging by 2025,as exposed in its vision 2035,when more 10% of its population(handicapped persons) are disenfranchised due to their non-consideration when designing and producing electoral material(especially ballots) and situating polling stations(Most being inaccessible to the handicapped)?
Realizing that the above is impossible without respect for human rights, we, at the Education 4Development (E4D) have made human rights the 9th MDG and therefore one of the elements of our advocacy and awareness creation campaign on a participative, timely, and inclusive achievement of MDGs in our community. Through our MDGs participative achievement programme, we reached out to more than 1000 pupils and students in 2011 and look forward to reaching out to a greater number in 2012.
Just in time for World AIDS Day, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton unveiled a Blueprint for Achieving an AIDS-Free Generation. The Blueprint lays out four “roadmaps” that will guide the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)—the U.S. government’s global AIDS program—as it continues to provide life-saving HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support programs around the world.
The four roadmaps—saving lives, smart investments, shared responsibility, and driving results with science—are based on the following five principles:
Overall, the Blueprint is surprisingly strong, especially in light of the fact that over the past few years, the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC)—the office responsible for administering PEPFAR—has done a lackluster job on young people and focused its rhetoric almost exclusively on biomedical approaches such as voluntary male circumcision, prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT), and treatment as prevention. While vitally important, these three strategies alone are not, and never will be, nearly enough to address all drivers of the epidemic, particularly as they relate to young people who continue to account for over 40 percent of all new HIV infections around the globe.
Among the many positive attributes of the Blueprint are its intentional focus on women and girls and key affected populations including men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers, and people who inject drugs (PWID). No plan would be complete without recognizing the critical importance of addressing the structural drivers of the epidemic, including gender inequality, violence, poverty, stigma, discrimination, and other legal barriers to services, all of which disproportionately impact women, girls, and key affected populations. To address those barriers, the Blueprint specifically calls for improving girls’ access to education, increasing economic opportunities for women, preventing and addressing gender-based violence and exploitation, engaging men and boys in addressing norms and behaviors, repealing laws that criminalize people for who they are or who they love, and supporting the human rights of women, girls and LGBT populations.
In addition, supporting women—both HIV-positive and negative—to plan their families is a key pillar of the Blueprint, recommending increased access to voluntary and comprehensive family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) services with a range of contraceptive options including male and female condoms, counseling and referrals, and integration of and linkages between FP/RH and maternal, newborn and child health as well as HIV/AIDS and programs serving orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).  Integration is vital for helping women and young people receive information and services in one location, and it’s great to see it interwoven throughout various sections of the Blueprint. However, continuing to rely solely on USAID to supply contraceptives places severe limits on the ability of women and young people to protect themselves and plan their families. If a young woman lives in a PEPFAR-funded country where USAID has no presence, what then? How does she access other forms of contraceptives, particularly if her partner refuses to use condoms, the only form of contraception supported by PEPFAR?
What about the other needs of young people? How do they fit within the Blueprint? For starters, there is a section, albeit somewhat short compared to other sections, that specifically focuses on strengthening programmatic commitment to and emphasis on reaching and supporting young people with HIV services. The fact that the youth section appears in the roadmap on “smart investments” should not be overlooked. Perhaps PEPFAR is now seeing what we’ve long known—that investing in young people is not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.
So what does this youth section say? First, it says that PEPFAR will work with partner governments to develop age-appropriate, evidence-based curricula for use in schools, while working with parents, communities, and implementing agencies to reach out-of-school youth. Secondly, it recognizes that education, alone, is not enough and that a comprehensive package of programs needs to be specifically tailored and targeted for sexually-active and at-risk youth.  Third, it calls for special attention to be given to young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) as they transition to adulthood, seek youth-friendly HIV care and treatment programs, develop sexual relationships, and plan their own families. Fourth, the Blueprint prioritizes better monitoring to track services utilized by YPLHIV and evaluation of PEPFAR-funded youth programs to identify the most effective interventions for young people. And lastly, PEPFAR for the first time ever, explicitly recognizes that the key affected populations of MSM, sex workers, and PWID also include young MSM, young sex workers, and young PWID, thereby requiring programs to be designed that specifically address their needs in an accessible and acceptable manner.
In addition to a specific section on youth, adolescent girls and young women are also prominently highlighted in the section on women, girls, and gender equality. Given the fact that this population is often invisible in larger gender programs, the Blueprint rightfully acknowledges the need for stronger surveillance efforts to ensure that adolescent girls and young women are adequately represented. Going one step further, the Blueprint finally requests “to the extent feasible” that data be disaggregated by sex and age in all health service programs, including those serving adolescent girls and young women—something Advocates for Youth has been requesting for years.  Furthermore, PEPFAR is tasked with adopting evidence-based best practices in youth-friendly health care and services, including supporting positive youth development approaches for in-school and out-of-school youth, developing specific programs for adolescents and pre-adolescents including boys and married adolescent girls, working with communities to change attitudes around child marriage, preventing and responding to sexual abuse and coercion, and increasing access to economic strengthening and educational resources.
While the Blueprint makes great strides in the U.S. response to HIV and AIDS, it is not without its shortcomings. Evidence- and rights-based comprehensive sexual health education is critical for young people, but the Blueprint fails to state whether the education it calls for is comprehensive, rights-based, or LGBT-inclusive. Furthermore, while a comprehensive and tailored package of services and programs for youth is needed, the Blueprint makes no mention of what that package might look like or why it seems to be restricted to those young people who are already sexually active or considered at-risk, rather than to ALL young people. The same can be said for access to male and female condoms, which also is limited to those who are already sexually active. And despite very strong language in other sections requiring the active engagement of PLHIV, key affected populations, and civil society in the design, implementation and evaluation of HIV programs, there is a complete and utter lack of attention to meaningfully engaging young people and YPLHIV in youth programs. Engaging parents, guardians, and influential adults, yes, but young people themselves, astonishingly not one mention whatsoever!
In her remarks, Secretary Clinton stated, “Now, make no mistake about it: HIV may well be with us into the future. But the disease that it causes need not be.” In order for that to be absolutely true, we can and must do better by our young people. We must ensure that programs for young people are comprehensive, evidence- and rights-based, and inclusive of the diversity of youth. We must move away from segmenting youth into artificial categories based on real or perceived notions of sexual activity or level of risk and provide ALL young people with the information and services they deserve and need. We must allocate sufficient resources—financial, technical, and human—to best address youth within the HIV pandemic. And we absolutely must ensure that young people themselves are meaningfully engaged in all program and policy decisions impacting them.
Young people have the right to accurate and complete sexual and reproductive health and HIV information and services. And the U.S. government has a responsibility to respect young people and provide them with the tools they need to safeguard their sexual health.
The project that has delayed many blog posts of mine for the last few weeks is something that I cannot discuss here, however, it has taken me on an interesting journey through the world of public policy and how it affects many different communities, from queer, women\’s, and/or LGBT issues. I will admit that I haven\’t been as \”in the loop\” about AIDS/HIV (though I do know one thing, housing and affordable care are very important), but I feel that one issue that is not given enough attention is criminalization.
According to ActionAIDS:
Criminalizing HIV non-disclosures takes a “law and order” approach to an exceeding complex health and social issue–the prevention of HIV. While using the criminal law may be warranted in some extreme situations, like wilful HIV transmisison, what we are seeing in Canada is a much more expansive use of the criminal law. The “law and order” approach does virtually nothing to stop HIV transmission, stigmatizes people living with and at risk of HIV, and is undermining proven HIV prevention strategies and programs.
And yet, 33 states have various laws which criminalize HIV transmission (the only hold-outs are the New England states, New York, Delaware, West Virginia, Alabama, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, and Hawaii). The Positive Justice Project has a comprehensive list of the somewhat complex patchwork of laws relating to HIV transmission. For example, my state, Pennsylvania, criminalizes HIV transmission by prisoners as well as by sex work, while Mississippi\’s statutes are overly broad and open to the discretion of prosecutors, who, frankly, do not exist in a vacuum and may not recognize the uncalled for stigma.
And it is not just solely those who are LGBandespeciallyT who are at risk for increased prosecution:
Pop quiz: Which nation leads the world in the prosecutions of HIV exposure and/or transmission? Perennial human rights violators such as Russia, China, or dictatorships in the Middle East or Africa? Not even close.
The surprising answer: The United States.
In more than 60 nations it is a crime to expose another person to or transmit HIV. The United States has reportedly led the world with “thousands of prosecutions”, according to United Nations-backed Global Commission on HIV and the Law. Thirty-four states and two territories criminalize exposure and/or transmission of HIV.  Some laws penalize having sex without revealing serostatus to partner—regardless if a condom were used or the virus was transmitted. Other laws criminalize spitting or biting—which pose little threat of HIV transmission.
And new research shows that Black men have been disproportionately singled out for prosecution.\’
However, US Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) has introduced a bill, the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act, numbered as HR3053, which calls for a review of all federal and state laws relating to HIV/AIDS criminalization. All in all, the simple solution would be to only prosecute those who WILLFULLY and MALICIOUSLY transmit the infection.
-Jordan Gwendolyn Davis.
Every minute a young woman is newly infected with HIV. This is according to information released by UNAIDS earlier this year. This is an alarming statistic. Every minute someone’s mother, sister, daughter, or wife, is becoming infected with HIV. New HIV infections among women are occurring disproportionately among women of color in the global south and here in the United Sates.
For me, World AIDS Day is a day to reflect. Reflect on the progress made so far on the fight against HIV/AIDS, reflect on the millions who have died from and continue to live with HIV/AIDS, and reflect on what still must be done in this fight. One thing that always comes to mind when thinking about what it will take to get to Zero New Infections, Zero AIDS Related Deaths, and Zero Discrimination is that there must be a focus on young women of color.
As a member of the Young Women of Color Leadership Council, I look to the three goals of the council to think about how we all can play a role in getting to zero. Educate: We must raise awareness among young people, especially young women of color, about the need for reproductive justice and sexual health efforts for themselves and other young people.  Include: We need to advocate for the inclusion of young women of color in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the reproductive justice and sexual health programs. Young women of color need gender-specific and culturally appropriate HIV prevention programs that address the complex social, cultural, economic, and behavioral factors contributing to HIV among young women of color. They must be included in all aspects of the program design, implementation and evaluation to ensure that these programs are framed within their specific cultural context.  Empower: We need all young people, especially our sisters of color, to get involved in fighting for reproductive justice and sexual health in our communities. We need to work with young women of color to mobilize in their communities and get involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
I believe we can make it to zero and by doing so we must work to educate, include and empower young women of color in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Let’s make our voices heard! Join and encourage others to join Advocates for Youth’s World AIDS Day Blogathon from December 1-7 to share perspectives of how we can get to zero. Post a blog or picture here to make your voice heard!
As we celebrate World AIDS Day, do your part in ‘Getting to Zero’: Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination. Zero AIDS Related Deaths.
1.Be informed: Know the facts so that when we speak and act we do so from a place of knowledge, not misinformation or fear.
2. USE PROTECTION! it cant be any more clearer.condoms offer very effective protection against HIV/AIDS, but we have to use them.
3.Get tested: Be positive you are negative.
Getting to Zero: What will it take to get to an AIDS Free Generation?
Each year, December 1 marks World AIDS Day, when activists around the world come together to raise awareness of the global HIV epidemic, fight stigma and discrimination, and advocate for increased efforts to support comprehensive HIV education and prevention.
The ongoing theme of “Getting to Zero,” supported by UNAIDS’ multi-year HIV/AIDS strategy for Zero New Infections, Zero AIDS Related Deaths, and Zero Discrimination, is an opportunity for young people to speak out about how to get to an AIDS Free Generation. Thirty years into the epidemic, we are seeing notable declines in HIV prevalence among young people, as described in the recent UNAIDS report, Results. This is fabulous news! At the same time, our efforts to prevent HIV must not falter when 40 percent of all new HIV infections are still among youth age 15-24. According to the report: “Young people are a fulcrum. They remain at the centre of the epidemic and they have the power, through their leadership, to definitively change the course of the AIDS epidemic.” It goes on to urge young people to engage in and lead the fight against HIV.
To find out more about World AIDS Day, go to http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/world-aids-day/
To read the new UNAIDS report, go to: http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/epidemiology/2012/gr2012/JC2434_WorldAIDSday_results_en.pdf.
Tomorrow is World AIDS Day (December 1, 2012). Â It is day of remembrance and spreading awareness.
HIV awareness is important to me because I am a Peer Health Educator and care that others do not have access to information that they can use to make informed decisions about their sexual health. Â Also, on a personal level, I know people who are HIV positive and are healthy because they have access to treatment, and because they had prior knowledge about HIV and what it means to live positive.
As young people we need to Act Aware by:
Getting informed about how HIV is transmitted, prevented and treated.
Speaking up and have open dialogue with our friends, family, and representatives about the importance about the importance of HIV Awareness and Services. Â Specifically on how Comprehensive Sexual Health Education can inform young people about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections/diseases.
Practicing safer sex by communicating with your partners about condom usage (or other barrier methods), getting tested regularly, and by having open communications about your HIV status with (or other sexually transmitted infections/diseases) with your partners.
Getting tested regularly to know your status is important step in preventing the spread of HIV.
Getting treatment if you are HIV positive . Â There is no shame in living with HIV. Â A person with HIV can live a long, happy and healthy. Being treated for HIV can also help in preventing the spread of HIV.
Act Aware because HIV prevention is possible and it starts with you.
Act Aware by getting involved!
Resources:Â
Find Your Representative  (How to find out who your representative so you can tell them why HIV Awareness is important)
CDC: HIV/AIDSÂ (CDC information of HIV/AIDS)
MTV HIV Awareness (Mtv provides HIV Awareness)
AIDSÂ (The US Government providing information on HIV/AIDS)
World AIDS Day UKÂ (International HIV Awareness Efforts)
Watch "HIV Is Not a Crime, 2011 Film by Sean Strub, Edit by Leo Herrera/HomoChic"
In addition to thinking and talking about “getting to zero” this World AIDS Day, there needs to be an equally strong emphasis on the 34 million people worldwide who are already living with HIV/AIDS and must regularly contend with the stigma and oppression that too-often accompanies a positive  status. The SERO Project is an initiative that attempts to expose the unjust criminalization of HIV/AIDS in the United States. Check out their website and watch some of their videos. How can we improve the way our government and society treat those living with HIV/AIDS?
Yesterday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton unveiled the Obama administration’s plan for reaching an AIDS-Free generation.
The “blueprint” calls for starting more infected people on AIDS drugs, circumcising men in high-prevalence countries and making sure that every HIV-positive pregnant woman is treated.
Read The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Blueprint: Creating an AIDS-free Generation
Watch Secretary Clinton’s remarks about World AIDS Day:
World Ball 2012 // Welcome to the North Pole
Join Metro TeenAIDS, RealTalkDC, STIGMA, SMYAL, Sasha Bruce, and the Latin American Youth Center for a night of competition, prizes, and voguing. This is your chance to compete in 15 categories, win a prize, and snatch a trophy!
The event will be hosted at the Eastern Market North Hall
Open to ALL YOUTH aged 13-24 years old.
Special Guests:
DJ Tony Playboy
Commentator Taye
Performances By:
Xquisite
Team Playboy
TASA
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ENTRANCE TO THE BALL IS FREE IF TESTED FOR HIV OR $5
To gain a FREE entrance pass to the Ball, you will need to get tested at the following locations:
Metro TeenAIDS
651 Pennsylvania Ave, SE
Testing Times: 12-8pm (Mon-Fri)
SMYAL
410 7th Street, SE
Testing Times: 3-5pm (Mon-Thurs), 3-6pm (Fri)
Sasha Bruce
701B Maryland Ave NE
Testing Times: 11-8pm (Mon-Fri)
LAYC
1419 Columbia Road, NW
Testing Times: 3-6pm (Mon – Thurs)
Youth can get tested between now and December 7th or at the actual event. We recommend getting tested prior to the event to skip the lines! Youth who chose to not get tested for HIV can enter the event for just $5.
All youth who are tested for HIV will receive a FREE entrance pass and be entered into a raffle for a $25 gift card (10 winners total!)
DON’T FORGET TO GET TESTED!
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WORLD BALL 2012 CATEGORIES
1. Virgin:
Runway- Green and White effect
Vogues- Red and White effect
2. Realness (OTA)
Bring it in a North Pole effect
3. Runway
European- Jack Frost
All American- Nutcracker
Female Figure- Ice Queen
4. Face
Holiday Paint
5. Hand Performance (OTA):
Blue or White gloves
6. Performance (OTA):
Female Figure – All White effect
Butch Queen: Santa’s Elves vs. Realness with a Twist: Reindeers
7. Tag Team:
Runway of 2 (1 Female Figure & 1 All American)
Female Figure- Snow Angels
All American- Snowman
PERFORMANCE (1 female figure & 1 BQ/ RWT)
Female figure- Ms. Claus
Butch Queen or Twister- Mr. Claus
The winner of each category will receive a $25 gift card and a World Ball 2012 trophy!
Nude protest outside Speaker Boehner’s office yesterday!
The trio had the words “AIDS cuts kill” painted on their bodies and had linked arms with four men who also disrobed as part of the protest. The nude protesters, along with dozens of other clothed demonstrators chanted slogans, including: “People with AIDS are under attack. What do we do? Fight back.”
New info on HIV among adolescents and young adults from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that young people represent a quarter of all new HIV infections.
More later on this; but it’s clear that while we are making progress, young people, especially the most vulnerable groups, must be given better tools to protect themselves from HIV – and barriers to prevention, treatment, and care must be dismantled.
I make a blog each year on World AIDS Day because it truly does affect us all and as long as it’s here, I’ll make sure to share knowledge about the disease and fight the stigma and ignorance.
Omg. Â You can’t just ask people why they’re ignorant.
source:Â http://byeproductivity.tumblr.com/post/31691276107/omg-you-cant-just-ask-people-why-theyre-ignorant
UNAIDS released a report in advance of World AIDS Day with hopeful news about the epidemic: there has been nearly a 50 percent reduction in new infections across 25 low and middle income countries. In Africa, AIDS deaths have been cut by one-third. And around the world, in the last two years 60 percent more people have been able to access HIV treatment. As UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe put it, “We are moving from despair to hope.”
Young people are a key part of this progress.
UNAIDS: “The actions of young people are shaping the future of AIDS across the world…. Young people are a fulcrum. They remain at the centre of the epidemic and they have the power, through their leadership, to definitively change the course of the AIDS epidemic.”
More young people are preventing HIV: globally, prevalence among young people ages 15-24 worldwide fell by 27 percent between 2001 and 2011.   “The largest progress was seen in South and South-East Asia where HIV prevalence among young men and women fell by 50%. Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean followed with a drop of more than 35% among young men and women.” Last year, UNAIDS also found that in 16 of the 21 worst affected countries, HIV prevalence declined by more than 25 percent – with the decline largely driven by behavior changes among young people.
Along with taking steps to protect themselves and their partners, young people are also leaders in HIV activism – as we saw at the XIX International AIDS conference in July, where youth leaders gathered and collaborated on the YouthForce Declaration and were prominent on panels and activism efforts throughout the conference.
UNAIDS fully acknowledges youth leadership:   “Young people are a fulcrum. They remain at the centre of the epidemic and they have the power, through their leadership, to definitively change the course of the AIDS epidemic.”   The report addresses young people directly, urging them to “continue to engage and lead.”
But young people can’t do it alone. Defeating AIDS requires a global commitment of resources and political will. It requires pragmatic approaches: comprehensive information about HIV prevention for all young people. It requires that attention be paid to marginalized groups, including injection drug users; men who have sex with men; and commercial sex workers – some of the most vulnerable to HIV and AIDS, and, often due to laws and stigma, among the most difficult to reach with prevention and treatment programs.
And fighting the HIV epidemic takes money and investment in young people:Â nations must make a commitment to robust domestic and global funding for HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment and support youth leadership and engagement in the HIV/AIDS response.
Young people have proven that they can and will lead the prevention revolution. World leaders must follow their lead and support their efforts to achieve the goal of an AIDS-free generation.
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