A day to celebrate. Yes. A day to celebrate the fact that we each are so powerful.
So powerful that we can protect ourselves from the virus that causes AIDS.
- only you can decide who to have sex with, and whether to use protection
- only you can decide not to share needles
- only you can make sure you are educated about the facts of HIV/AIDS
So powerful that we can help those who were powerless to do so.
- Just $5 can help AFC continue giving HIV+ kids who have lost their parents a home, medical care, an education, and a family. http://artistsforcharity.org/home.html
- Artists can donate work to be auctioned for the kids
- Those in the DC area can attend the Holiday Fundraiser this Saturday!
http://artistsforcharity.org/events/
And so powerful that we can help make the world better for them and safer for others by GETTING EDUCATED and SPREADING THE WORD.
- To give us all a head start on this one, I'm reposting this from last year. Please. Read, think, pass it on.
Things I wish people knew about HIV/AIDS:
HIV and AIDS are not the same thing. HIV is a virus, which can be contracted from another person. AIDS is a syndrome, which is not contagious. AIDS is a set of symptoms which develop after some time if a person does not undergo treatment for HIV. Not everyone with HIV will develop AIDS.
HIV is NOT a death sentence. HIV is now considered a chronic but manageable disease, such as diabetes or hepatitis.
It is, in fact, considered in many cases to be easier to manage than both of those diseases.
People with HIV can live 'indefinitely', and children born HIV positive can usually expect to grow up and lead healthy, relatively normal lives. *as long as they have access to treatment*
HIV is NOT spread through casual contact- such as sharing toys, even toothbrushes, food, dishes, clothes, etc, coughing, sneezing, hugging, kissing, pool or bathwater, or through contact with urine, tears, sweat or spit.
HIV is ONLY spread through sex, breastfeeding, blood-blood contact (almost exclusively sharing of needles), or through pregnancy/childbirth.
With proper medication, pregnancy/childbirth barely makes that list- only a 2% chance of passing on HIV to a fetus/infant with currently available meds.
You are really the only one who can protect you from HIV. You can protect yourself by always practicing safe sex, and by never sharing needles. It is within your power to prevent contracting HIV.
HIV/AIDS is a lot more common than you might think. Statistically speaking, odds are that you know or have met someone who is positive.
People with HIV or AIDS are not a threat to you or to anyone else. Unless you plan on having unprotected sex or sharing needles with that person, it is virtually impossible for you to become infected.
People with HIV or AIDS are people. Really! They deserve to be treated with respect and compassion, as all people do. They deserve to have full lives and rights, as all people do.
The worst, scariest thing about HIV/AIDS in so many ways is not the physical aspect, but the stigma. Many other diseases are much more contagious and much more life-threatening or limiting, and yet HIV continues to carry a huge stigma entrenched in fear and lack of education about the facts.
One of the best things we can all do to help those affected by HIV/AIDS is to be one less person who is uneducated, one less person harboring needless stereotypes, one less person reacting out of fear rather than awareness.
HIV and AIDS are not the same thing. HIV is a virus, which can be contracted from another person. AIDS is a syndrome, which is not contagious. AIDS is a set of symptoms which develop after some time if a person does not undergo treatment for HIV. Not everyone with HIV will develop AIDS.
HIV is NOT a death sentence. HIV is now considered a chronic but manageable disease, such as diabetes or hepatitis.
It is, in fact, considered in many cases to be easier to manage than both of those diseases.
People with HIV can live 'indefinitely', and children born HIV positive can usually expect to grow up and lead healthy, relatively normal lives. *as long as they have access to treatment*
HIV is NOT spread through casual contact- such as sharing toys, even toothbrushes, food, dishes, clothes, etc, coughing, sneezing, hugging, kissing, pool or bathwater, or through contact with urine, tears, sweat or spit.
HIV is ONLY spread through sex, breastfeeding, blood-blood contact (almost exclusively sharing of needles), or through pregnancy/childbirth.
With proper medication, pregnancy/childbirth barely makes that list- only a 2% chance of passing on HIV to a fetus/infant with currently available meds.
You are really the only one who can protect you from HIV. You can protect yourself by always practicing safe sex, and by never sharing needles. It is within your power to prevent contracting HIV.
HIV/AIDS is a lot more common than you might think. Statistically speaking, odds are that you know or have met someone who is positive.
People with HIV or AIDS are not a threat to you or to anyone else. Unless you plan on having unprotected sex or sharing needles with that person, it is virtually impossible for you to become infected.
People with HIV or AIDS are people. Really! They deserve to be treated with respect and compassion, as all people do. They deserve to have full lives and rights, as all people do.
The worst, scariest thing about HIV/AIDS in so many ways is not the physical aspect, but the stigma. Many other diseases are much more contagious and much more life-threatening or limiting, and yet HIV continues to carry a huge stigma entrenched in fear and lack of education about the facts.
One of the best things we can all do to help those affected by HIV/AIDS is to be one less person who is uneducated, one less person harboring needless stereotypes, one less person reacting out of fear rather than awareness.
You can get more info at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/transmission.htm
Even better- tell someone else. Spread the word!
Even better- tell someone else. Spread the word!
Happy World AIDS Day. Celebrate your power! Celebrate by using it.
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