Fashionistaz Life

Declare your Health! Get Tested & Protect Yourself!

Today Is World Aids Day.  Every year on December 1, awarness about HIV and AIDS in brought forth internationally.  The first World Aids Day was on December 1, 1988.

Although, one day a year is a great way to bring awareness, HIV/AIDS is a topic that needs to be discussed more often.

In 2008, there were 7,298 new diagnoses.  There are 33.4 million people living with HIV worldwide and in 2008 there were 2 million death HIV related deaths. 

HIV/AIDS is a preventable disease.  It is devasting at these numbers.  There needs to be constant reinforcement.  Here's some basic information I found on the World Aids Day website:

Are HIV and AIDS the same?

No. When someone is described as living with HIV, they have the HIV virus in their body. A person is considered to have developed AIDS when the immune system is so weak it can no longer fight off a range of diseases with which it would normally cope.

How is HIV passed on?

HIV can be passed on through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk.

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)

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.

How can I protect myself and others from HIV infection?

Always use a condom when having vaginal or anal sex. You also may want to use a condom or dental dam during oral sex although the risk of transmission of HIV is much lower. You can get free condoms from a sexual health clinic.

On a personal note, I had a close friend succumb to AIDS several years back.  It's very heartbreaking to see someone taken too soon from this disease.  Especially when it is preventable.  Please do your part to talk to your partner.  Get tested together and protect yourself.  Cause what you don't know can kill you.