Thursday 2 December 2010

WORLD AIDS DAY



Yesterday I made a post about World Aids Day but I accidentally erased it so I'm just going to re write this.
World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. It is common to hold memorials to honour persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day.
World AIDS Day is something that I find very important for everyone to know about, since HIV isn't just something that happens in third world countries anymore it's everywhere.
You can get HIV from unsafe sex, blood to milk for infect mothers who breastfeed.

The most common ways HIV is passed on are:

  • Sex without a condom with someone living with HIV
  • Sharing infected needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipment
  • From an HIV-positive mother (to her child) during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding (but with effective treatment and care the risk of transmission can be greatly reduced)

Over a quarter of people with HIV don't know they are infected. And in 2008 there were 7,298 new diagnoses. The two groups most affected remain gay and bisexual men and black African heterosexuals. Three-quarters of people diagnosed were among these two groups.

Is there a cure for HIV?

No, but treatment can keep the virus under control and the immune system healthy. People on HIV treatment can live a healthy, active life, although they may experience side effects from the treatment. If HIV is diagnosed late, treatment may be less effective.

HIV affects all ages but most of it's carriers are aged between 16 and 30 years old.

International Statistics

  • HIV is increasing in every region of the world

People living with HIV globally

  • 33.4 million people living with HIV worldwide
  • 31.3 million adults
  • 15.7 million women
  • 2.1 million children under 15
Learn about the Myths of HIV: here.

Learn about what you can do to help: here.

So remember Safe Sex is Hot Sex, and you don't want it to be the last you get.
You might think you're too young, or too old or that I will never happen to you but the truth is it gets you when you least expect it and can happen anytime.

So be careful, get tested regularly and know that you will be loved no matter what happens.

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