Swobidu Health

Posts Tagged ‘hiv’

I have to present a project in my class tomorrow. the topic is HIV/AIDS in the LGBT community. Every other group has done PowerPoint slides and I refuse to follow the boring trend.

Any ideas would be extremely helpful!! Please keep in mind the topic so as to not go too far off the map and offend anyone.

Thanks in advance!!

For some, the subject of sex can be taboo, but it really needn’t be. Sex is something which is performed everyday all over the world-whether you are heterosexual, homosexual, young, middle aged or mature; everyone has sex at some point in their lives, whether it is for recreation or procreation. When it comes to having sex, safety is key for both the protection of yourself and your partner.

In order to be as safe as possible from sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and pregnancy, you should wear a condom in every instance where you are partaking in sexual intercourse. We are all aware of condoms, and you may also be aware of the different variations of condoms which are available on the market at the moment. You may feel that you are well educated when it comes to condoms and practising safe sex, but condoms actually play a key role in protecting us in all aspects of our sex lives:

-As many people are aware, condoms are vital in order to prevent against the spreading of STIs which can be caught through the exchanging of bodily fluids. They are also key in protecting yourself from HIV and contrary to popular belief-you cannot catch HIV from an infected partner when wearing a condom unless there is a fault with your condom. This is why it is important that you check the expiry dates of your condoms, and only use lubricants with compatible condoms.

-Some STIs and HIV can be passed on through oral sex as well as penetrative sex, so help yourself be further protected by wearing a condom during oral sex also.

-Many fear that their condom will break easily unless dealt with very gently. Condoms which are made from materials such as latex are designed to withstand great stretching, but all condoms are extensively tested to get a grasp of their durability. If you are worried about weak condoms, ensure you only purchase condoms which are certified as being tested.

-We often worry about catching STIs through the exchanging of semen or vaginal secretions, but some STIs can also be caught through skin to skin contact. Unless you are sensible enough to wear a condom, you could potentially catch diseases such as Syphilis, Genital Warts and Herpes, which can remain dormant in some people, thus not show any visible signs of the disease.

-Every year, around 440 million Americans purchase condoms of different varieties. With the rise in sexually transmitted diseases, the more people who wear a condom during sex, the lower the percentage will be of those who catch an STI. The less you wear a condom, the more chances you have of catching an STI, or if you are female, falling pregnant also.

-In order to maintain safety at all times, you should always change your condom if performing a sex act during intercourse and always after ejaculation has occurred. By continuing with a used condom, you are risking the chances of it breaking which can then lead to pregnancy or STI transference.

And did you know.

-When first produced, condoms were only available on prescription. As time has gone on, there have been developments in medicine, which has resulted in condoms now being produced in latex and synthetic materials. Although now used as a method of birth control, condoms were originally only prescribed to men to protect themselves from STIs if they were seeking sex from prostitutes. However, women were not allowed such a luxury as condoms as the use of condoms would prevent them from falling pregnant. My how times have changed

On Days 6 and 7, we visited two of the communities in which HIV and AIDS ministry is being done through Kabale PAG. CRWRC chooses to do development work primarily through local churches. It’s incredible how God is using His church to accomplish so much.

The church’s development office starts support groups for people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS. While many of the participants receive goats or piglets so that they can begin to earn a little money to supplement their subsistence farming, it is amazing to hear how just being part of a group makes such a big difference. I’ll share with you the writing of Stan, a member of Bethany CRC, as he did such a beautiful job.

The “before” picture of Jane showed her to be beyond emaciation, barely able to stand. But we, a team of six from Bethany Christian Reformed Church of Bellflower, California, have struggled up an extreme mountain path to arrive at her small but well maintained hut, surrounded by a lush garden and a pen holding her two mother goats and their kids. Jane’s posture now is vigorous and her face is a picture of hope and confidence.

The life path Jane has taken to this point has been even steeper and more treacherous than the one we have just climbed.

When her husband fell ill nearly twenty years ago, they made a rare visit to a clinic. the doctor explained the diagnosis in a language she did not understand, but her husband said his problem was merely an inherited condition he would just have to live with. But he was lying. He couldn’t afford to admit to her or to the general public that he had contracted AIDS. it would be too great a shame and too great an inhibition to his social freedom. So they had two more children before he died of AIDS.

But that was only the beginning. now the health of both Jane and her children was in deep jeopardy because of HIV/AIDS. now she and her children bore the stigma her husband could not face. Next her village and her family pushed her out. and finally her in-laws challenged her right to her husband’s house and land.

Meanwhile the Pentecostal Assembly of God Church in nearby Kabale, Uganda, had heard the call of the Lord to bring the Gospel to bear on the awful new plague that was killing off their neighbors. First, to set an example of courage and accountability, the entire staff of pastors marched publicly to the clinic to be tested for HIV. They then reached out to those known to have tested positive to give them a place of acceptance, a place to support the care of their children, a place that would free them from the awful, suicidal choice of selling their bodies to provide for their children, and most of all a place where they would meet Jesus, with his power to forgive and to heal.

Through the offices of CRWRC, Bethany CRC of Bellflower, CA, was given the opportunity to enter a partnership with Kabale PAG in its response to the AIDS epidemic flooding their community, in large part because of its location on the transcontinental highway right at the entry into Rwanda. the paperwork and red tape at the border give the truckers lots of idle time and that leads inevitably to the search for female companionship. and the epidemic rages!

After sending them some financial support, Bethany CRC came to the conclusion that it would be much more meaningful for both sides if we made this a fully personal and spiritual partnership. So we decided to send a team of six to visit Kabale PAG.

What we found there was a sort of miracle of loaves and fishes. we can’t begin to imagine their lack of financial resources. Nevertheless they have planted over twenty churches in the neighboring hillsides. and they have developed a thoughtful and holistic response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. it includes promotion of testing, help with access to antiretroviral drugs, support groups, care for orphans and children at risk, income stability through the raising of goats and pigs, training in better methods of gardening and farming, introduction to the nutritious amaranth plant, vital to the survival from AIDS; drama groups carrying the message of sexual purity and responsibility and a Christian pre-school.

As part of our preparation, we studied to be as wise as we could be in our visit. we determined to come not with ready North American solutions, gumption, and resources but with a humble spirit, a listening ear, and a willingness to become loving, equal partners.

The love, acceptance, and fellowship with which we were received made those goals almost automatic in spite of ourselves. we were so immediately embraced and flooded with generosity and hospitality that we hardly had a chance to exercise our expertises. by the grace of God and the power of fellowship in faith, we truly and almost naturally became true partners.

There remains much to be done, many opportunities to bring support, and undoubtedly many complications and mistakes, but we came away deeply blessed and hopeful because of the magnificence of God’s grace shown in his saints at Kabale PAG.

You may also like:

1. Uganda, Day 4: Church to Church Relationships
2. Greetings from Kampala, Uganda
3. Uganda, Days 2 & 3: Orientation and Street Children
4. Eating Locally in Soroti, Uganda
5. 8 Weeks Until Uganda

Those Sub-Saharan African countries that have high birth rates and high rates of malaria and HIV/AIDS are in the ____ stage of the Demographic Transition Model.

# a. First
# B. Second
# C. Third
# D. Fourth

If you think you are perfectly healthy and need not go for HIV-testing, let me tell you that you are wrong. Did you know that over 950,000 individuals in the USA alone are currently living with the ‘Human Immunodeficiency Virus’ (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, the most dreaded immunodeficiency syndrome? but, the most unfortunate thing is that 1/4th of these carrier individuals are unaware that they have the virus in them! and, trust me; you surely can be one of them.

The Importance of Testing

The virus might have entered your body while having unprotected sex with a partner, who is also unaware of his/her HIV-status, or while donating blood in a camp where proper precautions were not taken, or even while sharing injection needles. to put it in simple words, this deadly virus can be present in anyone’s body, regardless of age, sex, race, income or sexual orientation.

The presence of this deadly virus in a person’s body does not necessarily imply that he/she will contract AIDS and start to show the symptoms of the syndrome immediately. Many a times, the virus remains dormant in the body for several years, owing to which the carrier feels he is healthy and unknowingly puts others, especially his/her sexual partner, at risk. thus, it is not possible to prevent the viral transmission until and unless you know your HIV-status, and an AIDS test is the only way to find this out. once you get to know whether you are HIV-negative or HIV-positive, you can act accordingly to prevent transmission.

The Importance of Counseling

Mere testing is not enough. if your test gives positive results, indicating that you are a carrier of the AIDS virus, you would need expert counseling. Certified counselors will help you in following ways:

1) Help you to get into the needed care as soon as possible. 2) Provide you all the required information pertaining to transmission risk reduction and safer sex. 3) Assist you in those first hours or days after learning the bitter fact of your life.

You should go to a counselor even if you are HIV-negative. This is because they can help you understand your test results and provide you with necessary information about the AIDS-related resources available in your locality.

No need to be Ashamed

Many people avoid going for HIV/AIDS testing and counseling because of their fear of being snubbed from social communities, family or religious groups. but, there is nothing to be ashamed of or scared of. if you really wish to lead a healthy life and protect others, especially your sexual partner, you should not ignore the importance of HIV testing and counseling. At-risk individuals as well as the people with no-risk behaviors should definitely go for it.

Where to get HIV Testing/Counseling Done?

HIV testing and counseling centers are located in almost all the localities in the country. You can avail this facility in specialized centers in large cities, in rural hospitals, as well as in local clinics. Do Not Wait Anymore; get your test done as soon as possible and Save your Life and Lives of Others.

Botswana is not able to give HIV/AIDS patients ARV treatments when the patient's cd4 level is not below 200, but 99% of the patients are really surferring and most are dying before they get the help from the government because the government is saying it doesn't have enough money to buy the ARV and help anyone living with HIV/AIDS. please am appealling to the developed countries to help. Botswana is a small populated country of which the way people are dying from HIV/AIDS in 10 years to come Botswana will need 30 minutes to count its remaining lucky people around the country.

Please please help we are surffering, we are dying

You can't get HIV/AIDS unless you exchange bodily fluids. if you touch infected blood and you have a cut on your finger, you may have been exposed. get tested.