AIDS/HIV

Aids/HIV Research Paper Lilly Kalantzis Durham College

AIDS/HIV Since 2012, 36 million people have passed away that have it, 35.3 million are living with it globally, and 3.3 million people under the age of 15 have it. Six thousand three hundred people contract it every day, which is 262 per hour. (Amfar, October 2013). Aids are a huge epidemic in todays society. There has never been a disease quite like aids that can kill so many individuals. Aids is caused by an infection called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is most commonly transmitted by unprotected sexual intercourse, but can also be transmitted from mother to child during delivery or

breastfeeding, through blood transfusions and hypodermic (hallow) needles. (Aids Law, retrieved March 23, 2014). Aids, known as the killer disease has inspired for many organizations to form throughout the world to help out and educate people about aids. Unfortunately, there is no cure for aids but there have been many breakthroughs scientists have discovered. The individuals who do have aids face a great deal of discrimination on daily basis that is not necessary. Public education about the disease is crucial in order to find a cure one day for the killer infection.

There are many international organizations that help millions of people who suffer from aids throughout the world. Many of these organizations seek out countries of poverty that are unable to provide medical care or for patients that cannot pay for medical attention. Their goal is to end aids. They accept donations and have appreciated donors who help out to give money to find a cure for aids and to help patients in need. With no cure for aids, that does not mean scientists are not close to finding a cure. These organizations try to network the epidemic of aids and they make a point to educate everyone about the infection. By networking and educating they are able to receive

AIDS/HIV donations. The donations are then donated by the organization to foundations and

medical researchers to help find a cure to save millions of lives. One organization called, International HIV/Aids Alliance has helped out 4.7 million individuals who are suffering from HIV. (Aids Alliance, retrieved March 23, 2014). In addition, with the organizations and the involvement of networking through social media, there have been program created for patients with HIV. They are called HIV dating HIV dating is a dating site for individuals who have HIV. (Aids Alliance, retrieved March 23, 2014). They can now find and meet new people who have the same unique side effect and can feel comfortable in their own skin. These organizations have and are still making a huge impact on todays society. Their mission statement is simple: end aids.

Scientists are constantly working to find a cure for aids. Unfortunately there is no cure but there have been some significant breakthroughs. The University of Mississippi had announced on March 2nd, 2013 that they cured a baby born with HIV. Within 30 hours after birth, the baby was treated with aggressive antiretroviral drugs. The baby took medication till the age of 18 months and now, at the age of two years old has no re-active HIV. (Unaids, March 27, 2014). There are many treatments one can receive that do not remove the infection from the body but to reduce the amount in the body. Antiretroviral can be taken for reducing HIV. Essentially what the drug does (an example of the drug is, Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors) is it stops it from duplicating which slows down the HIV from travelling. (UCSF Health, retrieved March 27, 2014). The benefits through micronutrient (required nutrients) supplements that help reduce HIV should include selenium, vitamin A and multivitamins. A multivitamin is given to mothers and

AIDS/HIV

children in Africa to improve health. Additionally, there are measures that can be taken to prevent the infection from your body. It is recommended that hepatitis A and B injections be taken by those who are at risk of HIV. It can also be given after you have HIV. Another preventive is to have safe, protected sex with the use of condoms and birth control. It is also important to be monogamous, having one sexual partner and to be both tested before having sexual intercourse. The exchange of dirty needles is with an individual who has HIV and someone else uses the same needle without sterilization. If the drug must be injected by a needle it is important that the needle is sterilized before use and to not share needles. (10 ways to avoid aids, November 2012). Therefore, with no cure for Aids/HIV yet, there are many precautions one can take if they are not infected or if they are. There are many different treatments that a doctor can determine what is best for the patient to take to reduce the amount in the patients body.

The stigma resulting from aids goes around the world and targets individuals who are infected giving them a negative connotation. Since there is a stigma, individuals who have speculation that they may be infected avoid getting tested. They avoid being tested because they are scared. They know the consequences that are to be face with their overall health. Knowing there is no cure for the infection and the high statistic that it can be fatal is what many fear. Ryan White became a poster child in 1980s for Aids. He had received a contaminated treatment while he was in the hospital and was diagnosed with Aids which at the time scientists knew little about. He was given a 6 month period to live but ended up living for another five years. When White founded out he had the infection, many school staff and parents did everything they could to get him expelled from school.

AIDS/HIV

Believing that his presence at school would contaminate staff and students, a petition was signed and White was going to be expelled, until his parents filed for a lawsuit and took it to court. Fortunately, after the issue had been taken to court, White was allowed to participate in school by taking the necessary health precautions. White helped open the eyes of many people and scientists to know the truth about aids. As well as the importance it was to find treatments. From the legacy White has left people are more informed about the disease. (Nytimes, April 1990). There are still stigmas out there about HIV and there are people who are still being bullied because they fail to receive proper knowledge of Aids.

Aids/HIV is still an epidemic in todays society. Fortunately, with the help of many international organizations, the extensive research that is being done by scientist to find treatments for curing aids and the discrimination people face that is due to failure of public education, aids is still an ongoing research project of its own. It is important for individuals to be properly educated about the killer disease so the infected individuals can live their lives to the fullest potential. With the intensive research and education slowly the statistical number should increase. The mission is not to bring down the odds of contracting aids; it is to eliminate the disease for good.

AIDS/HIV References AIDSTreatment. (n.d.). AIDS Treatment. Retrieved March 27, 2014, from http://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/aids/treatment.html Bruyn, T. (n.d.). HIV/AIDS and Discrimination: a discussion paper. HIV/AIDS and Discrimination: a discussion paper. Retrieved March 23, 2014, from http://www.aidslaw.ca/publications/interfacref=46

Feature story. (n.d.). Scientific breakthroughs in HIV help shape the future of Aids research in Africa. Retrieved March 27, 2014, from http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2013/june/20130605sympo siumcaprisa/ International HIV/AIDS Alliance Supporting community action on HIV, health and rights to end AIDS. (n.d.). International HIV/Aids Alliance Supporting community action on HIV, health and rights to end AIDS. Retrieved March 23, 2014, from http://www.aidsalliance.org/HomePagedetaId=2 Johnson, D. (1990, April 8). Ryan White Dies of AIDS at 18; His Struggle Helped Pierce Myths. The New York Times. Retrieved March 27, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/09/obituaries/ryan-white-dies-of-aids-at-18-hisstruggle-helped-pierce-myths.html Statistics: Worldwide. (n.d.). amfAR. Retrived March 23, 2014, from http://www.amfar.org/about-hiv-and-aids/facts-and-statistics--worldwide/ 10 Ways to Avoid AIDS. (2012, November 12). LIVESTRONG.COM. Retrived March 27, 2014, from http://www.livestrong.com/srticle/80154-avoid-aids/ Sent from my iPad