Dec 1st - World Aids Day

[joninliverton]

Hi,

Just a reminder that today, December 1st, is World Aids Day. Spare a thought for those who have passed on due to Aids and not just the celebrities either.

J

 

[angelone]

It also a day to be thankful for those of us who have survived this "stanlingrad" of a calamity. I thought I was invincible, long-lasting and carefree; now I know better thankful for the second chance to smell the roses.

 

[tampa24]

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected and lost to this terrrible disease.

 

[stowe1]

The red ribbons are virtually extinct now. Candlelight vigils are not as numerous as they once were. But this date - December 1st - must be seared into our memories and our souls. First to remember all those we have lost from the earliest days of this holocaust when a diagnosis was a death sentence. To remember those who we've lost because of the bigotry and hatred of men of the cloth who not only shunned but actively preached hatred of those with AIDS because they were homosexual and urged their congregants to shun them as well. To remember those we've lost because of the hatred and bigotry of governmental officials in this country who would do nothing to help those with the "gay disease" until a straight teenager and a famous actor both died and shamed them into doing something. To remember and be forever thankful for those pioneers in the gay community who would not take "No" for an answer and demonstrated and mobilized the conscience not only of the greater gay community but also the country as a whole to do something to address this pandemic.

I'm one of the lucky ones. I am a 25 year survivor. I was diagtnosed with HIV in 1987 and with AIDS in 1992. For the first 5 years I lived in blissful ignorance and was fortunate to have not gotten sick, died, or pass it along to others. Then in 1992 when my health took a turn for the worse, I was put on AZT and some other early drugs and they held me until 1996; then my health started downhill again, but protease inhibitors were around and they helped to save me. I have been on the same cocktail of meds now since 2002 and they have held the virus at bay.

But every day, I thank God for sparing me; for giving me access to some of the best doctors around (a far cry from my early years when it was hard to find drs who would take you); for those early drs who took care of us whether or not we had insurance; for those researchers who have brought us as far as we are in dealing with this disease.

There are still too many people in this country who do not have access to any drs or medications - The best argument for a universal health system. Not to say anything about those in the villages and huts of so much of the third world. The Global Aids Initiative has been a big help, especially in bringing generic AIDS drugs to so many of these places and people.

I have been blessed and lucky. I lost many good friends to this killer. I pray each day for those who have gone to their rest and for those dealing with this disease every day. And I pray that one day, AIDS will be a distant memory and the world will say, "Never again!"



-

 

[lovelumps]

I have recently become acquainted with someone who has AIDS. He is an inspiring man and works hard in our community to raise and maintain awareness.

Thank you, Stowe! I admire you for your determination and courage and I wish you well!

 

[grace17]

The red ribbons are virtually extinct now. Candlelight vigils are not as numerous as they once were. But this date - December 1st - must be seared into our memories and our souls. First to remember all those we have lost from the earliest days of this holocaust when a diagnosis was a death sentence. To remember those who we've lost because of the bigotry and hatred of men of the cloth who not only shunned but actively preached hatred of those with AIDS because they were homosexual and urged their congregants to shun them as well. To remember those we've lost because of the hatred and bigotry of governmental officials in this country who would do nothing to help those with the "gay disease" until a straight teenager and a famous actor both died and shamed them into doing something. To remember and be forever thankful for those pioneers in the gay community who would not take "No" for an answer and demonstrated and mobilized the conscience not only of the greater gay community but also the country as a whole to do something to address this pandemic.

I'm one of the lucky ones. I am a 25 year survivor. I was diagtnosed with HIV in 1987 and with AIDS in 1992. For the first 5 years I lived in blissful ignorance and was fortunate to have not gotten sick, died, or pass it along to others. Then in 1992 when my health took a turn for the worse, I was put on AZT and some other early drugs and they held me until 1996; then my health started downhill again, but protease inhibitors were around and they helped to save me. I have been on the same cocktail of meds now since 2002 and they have held the virus at bay.

But every day, I thank God for sparing me; for giving me access to some of the best doctors around (a far cry from my early years when it was hard to find drs who would take you); for those early drs who took care of us whether or not we had insurance; for those researchers who have brought us as far as we are in dealing with this disease.

There are still too many people in this country who do not have access to any drs or medications - The best argument for a universal health system. Not to say anything about those in the villages and huts of so much of the third world. The Global Aids Initiative has been a big help, especially in bringing generic AIDS drugs to so many of these places and people.

I have been blessed and lucky. I lost many good friends to this killer. I pray each day for those who have gone to their rest and for those dealing with this disease every day. And I pray that one day, AIDS will be a distant memory and the world will say, "Never again!"



-

You're right, Stowe, we see less and less red ribbons, but it's through listening to people like yourself and seeing that a quality life is possible despite an AIDS diagnosis, that helps removes the stigma that still surrounds the disease and ensures we never forget how truly precious life is.

 

[joninliverton]

The red ribbons are virtually extinct now. Candlelight vigils are not as numerous as they once were. But this date - December 1st - must be seared into our memories and our souls. First to remember all those we have lost from the earliest days of this holocaust when a diagnosis was a death sentence. To remember those who we've lost because of the bigotry and hatred of men of the cloth who not only shunned but actively preached hatred of those with AIDS because they were homosexual and urged their congregants to shun them as well. To remember those we've lost because of the hatred and bigotry of governmental officials in this country who would do nothing to help those with the "gay disease" until a straight teenager and a famous actor both died and shamed them into doing something. To remember and be forever thankful for those pioneers in the gay community who would not take "No" for an answer and demonstrated and mobilized the conscience not only of the greater gay community but also the country as a whole to do something to address this pandemic.

I'm one of the lucky ones. I am a 25 year survivor. I was diagtnosed with HIV in 1987 and with AIDS in 1992. For the first 5 years I lived in blissful ignorance and was fortunate to have not gotten sick, died, or pass it along to others. Then in 1992 when my health took a turn for the worse, I was put on AZT and some other early drugs and they held me until 1996; then my health started downhill again, but protease inhibitors were around and they helped to save me. I have been on the same cocktail of meds now since 2002 and they have held the virus at bay.

But every day, I thank God for sparing me; for giving me access to some of the best doctors around (a far cry from my early years when it was hard to find drs who would take you); for those early drs who took care of us whether or not we had insurance; for those researchers who have brought us as far as we are in dealing with this disease.

There are still too many people in this country who do not have access to any drs or medications - The best argument for a universal health system. Not to say anything about those in the villages and huts of so much of the third world. The Global Aids Initiative has been a big help, especially in bringing generic AIDS drugs to so many of these places and people.

I have been blessed and lucky. I lost many good friends to this killer. I pray each day for those who have gone to their rest and for those dealing with this disease every day. And I pray that one day, AIDS will be a distant memory and the world will say, "Never again!"



-

I too admire your determination along with the help of recent drugs to fight this horrible disease. Kudos to people like Sir Elton John who helps raise awareness and has put a lot of his own wealth into charity and research and of course the late Lady Diana who broke the ice and was the first Royal to visit Aids victims in hospital.

The red ribbons are still worn a lot in the uk and all TV channel presenters, news presenters, chat show hosts and their guests all wear the red ribbon.

 

[joninliverton]

Here is a very disturbing report. Go to the BBC website for more reports showing an increase in those affected with HIV

There is still too much ignorance about HIV and Aids, David Cameron has said, as figures suggest 25,000 people in the UK have the virus but do not know.
The prime minister said these people were not benefiting from treatment and were increasing the risk of passing the virus on to others.
The Health Protection Agency said about 600 people were dying needlessly from the condition each year.
Its figures have been released to coincide with World Aids Day.
Mr Cameron said the event should be used to "spread the message" about education, testing and early diagnosis.
"World Aids Day is a chance to do two things - take action and reflect," he said.
"First and foremost, it's got to be a spur to take action, as there are still far too many people who aren't educated about HIV and Aids and who don't get tested.
Continue reading the main story[h=2]HIV[/h]

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus and on its own it does not kill you.
The virus can survive and grow only by infecting, and destroying, the immune system.
This continual assault on the immune system makes it weaker and weaker until it is no longer able to fight off infections.
Without treatment, it takes about 10 years from infection to the development of Aids - acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
It is then that "opportunistic infections", ones a healthy immune system could fight off, become deadly.
People can die from pneumonias, brain infections, diarrhoeal illnesses, as well as certain tumours such as lymphoma and cervical cancer.

• BBC Health: HIV and Aids

"People need to know that, diagnosed early, the outlook for most people with HIV in the UK today is a good one, thanks to the availability of effective treatment and the excellent care provided by the NHS.
"Above all, people need to know that it's never been quicker or simpler to get tested."
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said its figures suggested about 100,000 people in the UK were currently living with HIV, but about a quarter of them did not know they had the virus, which untreated can lead to the development of Aids.
The figures also showed that more than 6,000 people in the UK were diagnosed with HIV last year.
Among men, the figure of more than 3,000 diagnoses was an all-time high.
Lisa Power, from the Terrence Higgins Trust charity, said fear was stopping some people getting tested, but they were much better off knowing if they had HIV.
She said: "It's extremely alarming that so many people in the UK have HIV but are undiagnosed.
"Nowadays, if you get tested, get diagnosed and get on the treatment at the right time, you can live to a ripe old age. You'll live into your 70s, maybe even your 80s.
"But, if you don't know that you have it... then you could become very ill before you're diagnosed and then the pills won't work as well."
She said a shortage of money available to the trust meant it had to target the most at-risk groups, adding: "What's happened over the last decade or so, there has been very little awareness of HIV and sexual health among the general population."
To mark World Aids Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement on global progress on cutting new infections and Aids-related deaths.
In 2011, there were 2.5 million new infections - down 700,000 from the 2001 figure - and an estimated 1.7 million people died from Aids-related illnesses. That was 600,000 fewer than in 2005.
The WHO said improving access to antiretroviral drugs was key to cutting rates further.

 

[zayboy08]

This is a world epedemic that is common in the gay community and among African-Americans. This can happen to you to. Always be safe. Here is a vid I think you all should watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7CdQOuc3vQ